MONDAY 21st
Micah 5:2 – ‘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.’
The Old Testament prophecy before us today is a prophetic utterance that declares the place which was to become the birth place of the Lord Jesus Christ, Bethlehem and it also confirms that the one who would come forth (the child born, the Son given, Isaiah 9) is the one who has been from old, the one who is the ancient of days, that is he is eternal.
We know when we read the New Testament account of the birth of Jesus that a decree went out that everyone should be registered on a census. This required Joseph to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem because ‘he was of the house and lineage of David’. (Luke 2:4) It was while they were there that the time came for Mary to give birth, thus fulfilling this Old Testament Scripture.
This tells us that in regard to the first advent, God was involved in every detail, and as such was also involved in everything regarding the events that were happening to lead up to this event, even the decree that came out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered, it also shows us that God is prefect in his timing, as we have confirmed for us by the apostle Paul in Galatians 4:4 ‘But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, . . .’ Nothing happens by chance where and when God is concerned, he knows the minutest details, he knows the exact moments, he knows the places and people that are to be involved, he has it planned and he will perform it.
According to the prophecy in Micah, Bethlehem was too little to be considered among the clans of Judah, but was going to be big in the plan and purpose of God, playing a strategic purpose in the fulfilling of God’s will.
We can learn from this, we may think we are insignificant in many ways, but God has purpose for us, we may see ourselves as small in comparison to other Churches but that does not matter so long as we remain focused upon what God has planned for us and is wanting to outwork through us. Even in our smallness, we are significant because God is with us, God is blessing us and God still has purpose for us which in his timing he will bring about as we remain obedient to him, the same can be said for each one of us individually, we may compare ourselves with others and feel insignificant, but in God’s eyes we are all significant and of individual value and worth. And just as God was involved in the minutest of details in the first advent, so he still is interested and involved in the minutest of details in your life and mine.
Remember It was in the seemingly insignificant little town that the Christ Child was to be found! It is not the size that is important, what matters is that Emmanuel is there, ‘God is with us’.
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven
No ear may hear His coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive him still
The dear Christ enters in
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel