ReflectionsforDecemberTheProphecy - Community Bible Church of Kennesaw, Inc.,

THE PROPHECY
By: Mark W. Hutchison

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are too little to be among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from everlasting..." (Micah 5:2)

As with most Old Testament prophets, we know very little about the man known as Micah. We do know he occupies one of the smaller books towards the end of the Old Testament canon. The name Micah is apparently a shortened form of 'Mikayahu,' or, "who is like the LORD." I used to confuse Micah with Malachi, for their name similarity, both being what we refer to as "minor" prophets, and their proximity in the Old Testament record. Though Micah is considered a minor prophet, he definitely reveals a major prophecy in the unfolding of God's revelation to mankind of the coming birthplace of His Son. This small book of Micah comprises a warning, (as with all true prophets of God) of both impending judgment upon Israel, and of the long-awaited coming of Messiah. But only Micah is given the divine privilege of revealing the actual birthplace of the "Anointed One," written over 700 years before He came!

Micah was born in the small village of Moresheth, located about 20 miles southwest of Jerusalem near Gath. While we know very little of Micah, his influence upon the Jewish people was profound and widespread. 100 years after his prophetic utterances, the elders of Judah quote him to validate the authenticity of the prophet Jeremiah's ministry. 700 years after his prophetic ministry, the wise men from the East came to King Herod asking just where the 'King of the Jews' was to be born. The scribes in Jerusalem quoted them Micah's revelation of such, stating that he would be born in the smaller of the two towns both known as Bethlehem at that time. We know that that this inquiry from such esteemed men of the time did not sit well with this corrupt and evil king, which led to the "slaughter of the innocents," well after the newborn child had taken flight from Bethlehem under the delivering hand of God.

During the Christmas season, (especially those of us who have found our life in Him, and call ourselves, "Christ"ians) we tend to have favorite verses of Scripture reminding us why we celebrate, beyond the much-anticipated festive accouterments of gifts, marvelous foods, friends, family, and inspiring song. These few but deeply profound words from the prophet Micah concerning the future birthplace of Jesus Christ in the unassuming little village of Bethlehem are still among my favorite to ponder at this time of year. Something strikes a chord deep within me when I read Micah's revelation that the 'One' to be ruler in Israel in the far distant future had always been such from eternity past! We rarely hear this mentioned in the same breath as that traditional description of the babe in the manger.

But incredibly, it is not only the very foundation of our theology, it is what may help us momentarily see from a divine perspective, looking beyond our limited, earth-bound imagination and pulling back the cosmic curtain ever so slightly to reveal a glimpse of The Eternal, the Annointed One, Messiah, and truly King of kings.

There, read it again...do you see Him? If so, then this celebration of "Christmas" has revealed the most rewarding of all gifts, eternal and forever-lasting! The birth of the Son of God, the greatest gift to us all! "Thanks be unto God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Cor. 9:15 )