A Prophecy of Christ’s Coming
The prophet Micah, writing centuries before the birth of Jesus, delivered a message both sobering and filled with hope. In Micah 5:1–3, we read:
“Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.” (KJV)
A Picture of Siege and Suffering
The chapter opens with a grim picture: Israel is surrounded, threatened, and brought low. The “judge of Israel” is humiliated, struck on the cheek—a symbolic act of shame and rejection. This speaks not only to Israel’s history of being pressed down by enemy nations but prophetically points to the rejection and suffering of the Messiah Himself. Jesus, the true Judge of Israel, would also be struck, mocked, and despised. What the nation endured in part, He bore in full.
Bethlehem—The Chosen Place of Greatness in Smallness
Then comes a shift: the spotlight turns to Bethlehem Ephratah, a seemingly insignificant village among Judah’s clans. By human standards, Bethlehem was small, obscure, and unremarkable. Yet God delights in bringing greatness out of smallness. Out of Bethlehem would come the promised Ruler—One whose origin is not bound by time, for “his goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” This is none other than the eternal Son of God, who entered history in the humble setting of Bethlehem’s stable.
The message is clear: God chooses the lowly, the overlooked, the “little” places to bring forth His greatest work. The world looks to power and prestige; God looks to humility and faith.
A Time of Waiting and Travail
Verse 3 reveals a mystery: “Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth.” Israel would endure a season of waiting, longing, and travail, like a woman in labor. For centuries, the nation remained under oppression, scattered, and seemingly forgotten. Yet God had not abandoned His covenant. When the appointed time arrived, the birth of Christ brought the hope of restoration, and in the future, the remnant of His brethren will indeed be gathered back to Him.
Hope in Prophecy Fulfilled
This passage reminds us that God’s promises never fail. What He spoke through Micah was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, rejected by men yet destined to rule forever. His eternal nature ensures His eternal kingdom, and His humble beginnings assure us that no place—or person—is too small to be used by God.
Reflection for Today
- Are you feeling overlooked or insignificant? Remember Bethlehem. God often works His greatest plans through what seems small in the world’s eyes.
- Do you feel pressed by trials or surrounded by difficulties? Recall that Israel’s darkest moments prepared the way for the brightest light—the coming of Christ.
- Are you in a season of waiting? Trust that God’s appointed time will come, just as it did when Christ was born.
Bethlehem’s prophecy teaches us that God brings eternal hope out of human weakness, and that His promises, though delayed, are sure.