Good morning!
Text: Micah 4-5; Isaiah 40
Today’s reading includes a very timely text – Micah 5. It speaks of Jesus’ first and second coming and, in particular, nails down His place of birth – Bethlehem. Remarkably, these words were written 700 years before that first Christmas. Here is 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 meone who is to be ruler in Israel,whose coming forth is from of old,from ancient days.
Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent – the season of preparation for Christmas. We take four Sundays to get ready. But the Lord took all of history. He promised a savior in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15), and then continued to speak into that promise by prophets over the ages. For our God, a promise made is always a promise kept, and so Jesus indeed came to earth in a little town of no worldly consequence – Bethlehem. Humble. Perfect. Chosen and prophesied. Now… imagine waiting 700 years for Christmas! We are so blessed to live in the age where the Gospel is demonstrated, historical truth. Jesus came, lived a perfect life, died for our sins and rose again. Just like God said.
in Him, Mike