Micah 5:2: “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 have been from of old, / From everlasting.”

November 28th, 2021 by Pastor Ed in devotional

This verse, which was written centuries before the Messiah came, clearly predicted that the eternal God would burst into time at the tiny village of Bethlehem. The scribes and Jewish leadership correctly quoted this verse to King Herod in Matthew 2, when he asked them for the birthplace of the Messiah. The Magi had come seeking the newborn King, and based on this verse, Herod sent them to Bethlehem. It is mind boggling to think that everyone in Jerusalem received the correct information about the Messiah’s arrival, but few cared enough to be bothered to seek Him. People have not changed very much in that regard in almost 2000 years!

When Micah foretold the birthplace of Jesus, he emphasized how insignificant the small town was to the rest of the world. Jesus was not born in a politically, commercially, culturally, educationally, or socially significant city. Nor was He born into a house of royalty, riches, or celebrity. The One who would be called “The Bread of Life” was born in a tiny, village called Bethlehem, which means “The House of Bread.”

Jerome, an early church father who was part of translating the Bible from Greek into Latin, the language of the people of his day, lived part of his life in Bethlehem. One night he had a dream that Jesus visited him. He tried to give Jesus all his money, but Jesus said, “I do not want your money.” Next he tried to give Jesus all his possessions, but Jesus said, “I do not want your things.” “Then what can I give you, Jesus? What do you want?” Jerome asked the Lord. “Give me your sins,” Jesus answered. “I came to take away your sins. Give them to me.” Jesus wants to give us the gift of eternal life in exchange for our sins. Now that is an offer no sane person can refuse.

“Thank You, LORD, for coming and dying in the great exchange of Your life for ours. Please use us in Your Kingdom this day.”