◄ What Does Micah 5:2 Mean? ►

God is faithful to His people, Israel, even when they go astray and despite their prolonged rebellion against their long-suffering, covenant-keeping God. He remains faithful to His erring children for He promised to send a Kinsman-Redeemer Who would save His people from their sins. And the birth place of their Messiah was identified as Bethlehem - Ephratah - the little town of David.

God's Word speaks history into being, years and sometimes centuries before it is acted out on the pages of time, and this insignificant little town in the region of Judah was proclaimed to be the chosen place from whence the promised Messiah would come.

But although this verse identifies the birth-place of Christ with astonishing accuracy, it further proclaims with equal authority that this coming Ruler of Israel: "Who was the promised Deliverer of God's people," would be Deity - God with us - Emmanuel. His beginnings were from of old and His existence was rooted outside time, space, and matter, for He the One Who spoken everything into being. His origin has been from eternity and His divine Personage is secured from everlasting to everlasting: "His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of immeasurable time."

God's Word speaks history into being, and of the hundreds of prophecies that foretold of His first coming, not one had failed in its fulfilment, for all were accomplished to the last detail of every jot and tittle in Holy Scripture.

If the Bible foretold of the first coming of Christ with such astonishing accuracy, should we not anticipate with certainty the soon return of the Lord Jesus to complete His promises to His people, Israel, at the end of the coming prophesied 'time of Jacob's trouble'? And should we not prepare our hearts for the any day return of Christ Jesus for the Church? For God has spoken the future into being, God's Word stands fast for ever and ever, and nothing contained in the entire Bible will fail of its full and final accomplishment.

Heavenly Father, thank You that in Your grace, You have told us the end from the beginning, for Your Word is true and Your promises stand fast forever and ever. Forgive me for the times when my faith falters and fails, or when foolish thoughts fluctuate in my mind causing unfounded doubts and fears within. Thank You that You have spoken history into being. Help me to be like the godly men of Issachar who understood the signs of the times in their day and knew the best course to take. Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus Who was born in the little town of Bethlehem and Who is my Redeemer and Saviour. I look forward with hope to that wonderful day when He comes back, and His glory will be fully revealed. In Jesus' name, AMEN.