“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2
This year people are reeling from pandemics, hurricanes/typhoons, volcanoes, social unrest, political battles, wild fires, and riots all of which leave us feeling insecure. Many of us may be wondering what in the world is God doing?
The people of Israel may have felt a similar type of insecurity in the time of the prophet Micah. Micah admits that the situation his people were living in was gloomy: the nation was in extreme distress, Jerusalem was under siege, and the king has been humiliated. Much of the distress of the people was caused by the misuse of authority by the nation’s leaders (Micah 3:1-12).
In contrast to the wicked and greedy leaders of Israel in Micah’s day, there would come forth from the insignificant town of “Bethlehem Ephrathah… the One to be Ruler in Israel.” Dr.Tony Evans writes, “Hundreds of years later, God would sovereignly ensure the fulfillment of this prophecy through a Roman census that took Joseph and his pregnant bride, Mary, to his ancestral home of Bethlehem. There, in the humblest of circumstances, Mary gave birth to the One who would one day rule the world (see Luke 2:1-7).” 1
The name “Bethlehem” means “house of bread.” How fitting that “the Bread of Life,” Jesus Christ (John 6:35, 51a), would come down from heaven to be born in Bethlehem, the “house of bread,” which had also been the home of King David (cf. 1 Samuel 16:1, 18-19; 17:12). The name “Ephrathah” means “fruitful.” Only through Jesus Christ, “the True Vine” (John 15:1), can believers be enabled to be fruitful and fulfilled for the Father’s glory (cf. John 15:1-8).
The One born in this most insignificant town would be the most significant Person to ever live on earth. He is the One “Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” He is not just any “Ruler,” He is a Divine Ruler Who is the “everlasting” God! When Mary and Joseph looked into the face of the Child of Bethlehem, they were looking into the face of God.
Thank God for sending His only begotten Son, “the Bread of Life,” to the “house of bread” so that “if anyone eats of this bread [i.e. believes in Him – John 6:35], he will live forever” (John 6:51a)! Only Jesus Christ can satisfy our hunger for eternal life (cf. John 6:35) and give us security that lasts forever (John 10:28-29).
The reason? Because, as Micah says, only Jesus Christ is fully God (“from everlasting” – cf. Isaiah 9:6-7; 44:6; John 1:1, 14-18, 34, 49; 5:16-47; 6:69; 8:57-59; 14:7-9; 10:30-33; 11:27; 20:28, 31; Acts 16:31, 34; 20:28; Romans 1:3-4; 9:5; I Timothy 3:16; 4:10; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; I John 5:20; Revelation 1:17; 22:13; et al.) and fully Man (“Bethlehem… out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel” – cf. Matthew 8:24; 9:11; Mark 6:3; John 1:14; 2:12; 4:6; 7:3, 5; 11:35;12:27; 19:28; 21:12; Philippians 2:6-8; I Timothy 2:5; et al.), Who died for all our sins and rose from the dead, so we can have eternal life the moment we believe in Him (Micah 5:2; cf. John 3:14-16; I Corinthians 15:3-6).
Micah shared this hope-filled message with people who were overwhelmed with life and God wants to use us to do the same. Thank the Lord that the Bread of Life was born in the House of Bread so the world may have life in His name!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending the Bread of Life to be born in the House of Bread so we may have everlasting life in His name the moment we believe in Him! Just as Mary held You, Jesus, in her womb in the beginning of Your life on earth in human form without ceasing to be God, so You will hold us in the end because You remain faithful to Your promise (John 10:28-29). Thank You for security that lasts, especially in this insecure world. Please use us to spread this hope-filled message to those who are desperately in need of Your love and grace. In the mighty name of our God, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
ENDNOTE:
1. Tony Evans, CSB Bibles by Holman. The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (B&H Publishing Group, Kindle Edition, 2019), pg. 1414.