“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.” (Micah 5:2 ESV)
Expected things can sometimes come in unexpected ways. When we think about the coming of Christ as it relates to the Old Testament, there is almost no word that better captures the feeling than the word “expectation.” Looking back from the New Testament, however, the fulfillment of all those centuries of expectation was not met with the excitement we would expect, but with complete rejection.
This ought to strike us as odd. Why did a people who had clung to God’s promise of a Savior for time immemorial cast him aside when he finally arrived? Shouldn’t they have received him with open arms as the fulfillment of everything for which they had waited countless generations? And yet, he was “despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 52:3).
Christ was rejected as Messiah not because he was not expected but because he was not what was expected. He was rejected not because the Jews were not looking for him; he was rejected because they were not looking for him.
His messianic identity did not satisfy the people to whom he came because they desired so much less than he offered. The hope of the Jews was hung on a temporary, earthly kingdom while Christ offered an eternal, heavenly kingdom. Their hope was hung on freedom from civil oppressors while Christ offered freedom from spiritual oppressors. Their hope was hung on someone who would ascend to a throne in Jerusalem while Christ descended to a manger in Bethlehem.
Micah’s words convey the fact that misunderstood promises result in misdirected expectations which, in turn, result in missed blessing. The incarnation of the Son of God was not attended by grandeur but by obscurity. He did not enter the scene as a triumphant king surrounded by guards and courtiers but as a helpless babe in Bethlehem, which was “too little to be among the clans of Judah.”
Perhaps the manner of Jesus’ entrance as the Messiah was such a surprise to the Jews because they had forgotten their own history. Regarding the formation of Israel, Moses said, “It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers” (Deuteronomy 7:7).
Such a work leads to greater glory for God. His choice to act through small, obscure, and weak ways magnifies his power and wisdom. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are” (1:27).
Micah’s prophecy not only describes the origin of the Messiah but the identity of that Messiah. This “ruler in Israel” will be one “whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” This language should immediately draw our minds back to Daniel 7, where the prophet saw a vision of the Ancient of Days, to whom this “one like a son of man” came, foreshadowing Christ’s ascension. Certainly, Christ was sent from God for his earthly ministry, but Micah is identifying the Messiah with Yahweh in more than just his commission. John the Baptist too was “sent from God” (John 1:6), but Christ’s commission was distinct in that he was sent as God. Whereas prophets communicated God to us, Christ is God with us.
Christ may have been born in a stable, but his royal throne is unshakable. He may have been wrapped in swaddling clothes, but he clothes us in the robes of his righteousness. He may allow his people to continue under earthly oppressors for a time, but he has broken the chains of sin that bound us in gloomy darkness. He may not be the Messiah the Jews expected, but he is indeed the Savior the world needed.
His birth was long expected, his life was infinitely meritorious, his death was perfectly sufficient, his resurrection was widely attested, his ascension was divinely coronated, and his return will be gloriously attended. He is the desire of every nation and the joy of every longing heart. Consider these words from Charles Wesley as you expectedly wait to celebrate Christmas.
Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending Christ as the child in Bethlehem. The work of redemption is not always carried out in the way we expect, yet it always accomplishes your perfect purposes. May we grow more thankful for Christ’s work each day.
In his name, amen.
Prayer requests:
- Tuesday: Pray for missionaries serving with Logos Baptist Seminary in São Paulo, Brazil.
- Wednesday: Pray for missionaries who are separated from loved ones on Christmas.
- Thursday: Pray for missionaries filming on-site gospel films at biblical locations with 4 Christ Films.
- Friday: Pray for the evangelistic efforts of City Bible Forum as they engage people in the workplace in Australia.
- Saturday: Pray for evangelistic medical teams in North Africa.
- Sunday: Pray for missionaries serving with the Heart House in South Asia as they minister to marginalized women.
- Monday: Pray for missionaries working in the military community with the Centurion Project.
