December 8:
Micah 5:2-3 “’But you,
Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you
will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of
old, from ancient times.’ Therefore Israel will be abandoned until
the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers
return to join the Israelites.”
According to what I read, Bethlehem wasn’t anything special
at the time of Jesus’s birth. The
historical records basically stated that Bethlehem had been “forgotten.” I’m not sure what that means, but it doesn’t
sound good, especially when I read the part of the verse that says, “Israel
will be abandoned.”
Bethlehem wasn’t the “superstar” city; it sounds as though
Nazareth or Jerusalem had a better claim. Even so, God chose Bethlehem, the
“house of bread,” to be the city in which He was born. In considering the
character of God, this isn’t surprising.
While on Earth, God chose to hang around the “forgotten” –
the undesirables and unmentionables in society such as tax collectors,
prostitutes, cripples, and children. Likewise, in order to emphasize His power
and omnipotence, God likes to surprise us with answered prayer in unorthodox
situations. He doesn’t think like we do; rather, we don’t think like He does,
so it seems He loves to blow our minds with the unexpected. Being born in a stable in a “forgotten” town
like Bethlehem seems to fit the bill.
At times, we, too, feel forgotten – as though we are
wandering around in a dark room, bumping into walls. We cry out, but there is
no answer. The darkness envelops us, and we feel alone. Even then, God is there. Psalm 139: 5 says, “You hem me in behind and
before, and you lay your hand upon me.” We aren’t alone; it’s just not time for
the answer or a change of scenery.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Prior to the birth of Christ, Bethlehem was outwardly “wasting away.” Yet, the prophecies foretold the birth of Savior in the city of David – of an “eternal glory” that would “far outweigh them all.” Even though Nazareth and Jerusalem were the hotspots of the day, Bethlehem would not only have its day; it would be historically significant in years to come.
God promises the good stuff for us too. Psalm 34:19 “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” Although He might not answer us according to the timeline we prefer, He will answer us in the perfect time and in such a perfect way that we can’t help but shake our heads and smile.
Speaking for myself, when that happens, I often think, “I never saw that one coming.” I am awed by His supreme intelligence and attention to detail - that He should go to such lengths for one so insignificant as I when there are so many others in the world. I am also humbled by His generosity and patience. I am getting better about trusting Him, but I still have such a long way to go.
Like Bethlehem, we may feel abandoned, but forgotten? Not a chance. Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purposes.”
Challenge: Ask if you can help. Many people find it quite difficult to ask someone for help. They feel that they are inconveniencing the other person or "unloading" on them. The next time you see someone who looks down or frustrated, offer to help them. Simply ask how you could help make a situation better.
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