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 story of God choosing Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus is probably one of the most known stories of the Christmas season. It is also one of the most inspiring for us. In the ancient days, where you were born was almost as important as to who’s family you were born into. In fact, they two often combined to make your name. When it comes to a king being born (the Messiah) you would think that God would have had Jesus born in the downtown, city center. But, it should be noted that:
1. Jesus was born outside the city - Bethlehem
2. Jesus lived outside the city - Nazareth (can anything good come out of Nazareth? John 1:46)
3. Jesus died outside the city - Golgotha (Hebrews 13:13-15)
What we learn about God chooses Bethlehem as the place for Jesus birth and the way the birth took place is:
1. God, despite size and strength, uses the insignificant for His purpose
2. God, despite the odds, always fulfills his promises
3. God, despite the despair, always provides plentiful
The book of Micah was written to the big city of Samaria, which was the capital city of the Northern tribes (Israel) and to Jerusalem, the capital city of the Southern tribes (Judah). Their leaders had corrupted them and the people had sold themselves to the things of the world and for the things of the world. Micah is prophesying to two great cities that had all the luxury a modern day city in those days could offer. Their pride in their “offerings” and “privileges” is what would bring them down. God turns to lowly Bethlehem as a place that would be the powerful Messiah and provide the blessings and plenty the nation wanted. God chooses the weak things of the world to confound the wise.
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
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