Micah 5:2 NKJV
Luke 1:26-27
Matthew 1:2-16
Isaiah 11:1 NKJV
Isaiah 9:6 NKJV
John 19:21
Centuries before Jesus was born, the Prophet Micah foretold the coming Hope in 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 are from of old,
From everlasting.”
Based on this prophecy you would expect that Micah was talking about the son of an earthly King of Israel who would be born in a grand palace amidst great fanfare.
You would expect huge changes in the tiny town of Bethlehem.
You might expect someone would come along and build a grand very expensive vacation villa that would be fit for a king.
You’d probably think when the prophet spoke the words, “though you are little among thousands of Judah” he meant you would be a small baby born to a royal family.
You would not have expected Bethlehem Ephrathah to see no changes at all before the child came.
You would not expect that the promised ruler of Israel to be born of a young maid betrothed to a simple carpenter.
We are told that Mary the Virgin was chosen in Luke 1:26-27 and that Mary’s lineage was of the Tribe of Judah, from the line of David.
In Matthew 1:2-16 Joseph’s lineage from the Tribe of Judah was outlined from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Ram, Salmon, Boaz (husband of Ruth), Obed, Jesse, David (King of Israel), Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joram, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jeconiah, Shealtiel, Zerubbabel, Abiud, Eliakim, Azor, Zadok, Achim, Eliud, Eleazor, Matthan, Jacob, and Joseph (husband of Mary).
Both Mary and Joseph were from the line of David, the Tribe of Judah. That was a big deal in the 1st Century.
It’s still a big deal today.
That was important because it fulfilled prophecy from Isaiah 11:1, “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.”
The prophet Isaiah saw a rod with a stem and a branch that grew. Isaiah knew the line of Jesse, father of David was the source.
Isaiah also wrote about the child in Isaiah 9:6:
“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
We knew a child would be born on earth.
We didn’t expect He had been in heaven with God throughout eternity.
We knew the child would be a son.
We never expected the child would be the Holy Son of the Living God.
We knew the child would grow up to be a ruler of the government, like a King.
We never expected the child would be ruler of heaven and earth through eternity.
We knew the child would be wonderful.
We didn’t expect He would love so much.
We were told he would be a counselor.
We didn’t know when he looked at you, he would know everything about you and he would know exactly what you need today, tomorrow, and forever.
We knew he would be a mighty god.
We didn’t know He would BE God.
Hebrew scholars might have had some idea He would have characteristics of a father who would be remembered forever.
We didn’t expect the child would be the Son of THE Father God, Creator of Heaven and Earth.
When we read or heard the words of the Prophet Isaiah we would have probably expected a peace loving child.
We didn’t know the child would die a horrible painful death on a dead tree tearing the vale in the Temple in two forever opening the door to heaven to all who believe.
Peace indeed.
None of it was expected, but every word of the prophets was true.
We just didn’t understand the wonder and majesty that would come from the cruel death of one man on a cross. At His death a man called Pilate posted a sign on the cross that said, “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews” (John 19:21).
In the end, it was all true, even Pilates mocking sign.
The child was and is the Hope of the World more than 2,000 years later.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Hope
Tell God today that Jesus, His only Son IS your Hope.
In God, Deborah
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