Friday, December 13, 2024  //  Day 13

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. —Micah 5:2–5a

Micah prophesied at a particularly challenging time in the life of God’s chosen people. The nation of Israel had split into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah. Each kingdom continued to sin despite repeated warnings from God through His prophets to repent. 

In the midst of these warnings, Micah proclaimed hope in the promised Messiah. Micah confirmed God’s promise that a ruler would come from the tribe of Judah, specifically naming Bethlehem. This ruler would stand and shepherd His flock, and He would be their peace. 

This prophecy was partially fulfilled with the birth of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, in Bethlehem nearly 700 years later. In His first coming, Jesus revealed Himself as the good shepherd who would lay down His life for His sheep. Like a good shepherd, Jesus knows His sheep, including our struggles, our temptations, our hurts and our fears. 

While the challenges we face today are different from those of Israel, our need for a Messiah is the same. A closer look at this prophecy in Micah reveals that it has been fulfilled only in part. Just as the birthplace of Jesus was fulfilled, we can trust that the rest of this prophecy will be fulfilled. These verses give us hope today that Jesus will return to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords in His eternal kingdom. In His presence, we will experience His protection, provision, and peace for eternity. What a glorious day that will be. 

What challenges are you experiencing today? How does the truth of Jesus’ imminent return impact how you view these challenges?

As we celebrate the birth of the promised Messiah in Bethlehem, let’s praise our God who keeps His promises. Let’s pray that we never forget the hope we have in the sure return of our Shepherd of Peace.

Matt and Kim McGee