Day 5: Our hope
Read: Micah 5:2-5
One of the craziest pregnancy stories I’ve heard is my mother-in-law’s. What’s even more interesting is that it spans both of her pregnancies. When my brother-in-law was in her womb, one of her friends touched her belly and told her, “Your son is going to be born on June 13th.” Lo and behold—Casey was born on that date!
Flash forward to over a year later, she was pregnant with the baby boy who would later become my husband. The same friend came over, touched her belly and said the same thing. “Your son is going to be born on June 13th.” And guess what? Colin was born on that date.
It’s hard to believe that someone would be able to predict something like that. But, Casey and Colin’s shared birthday throughout the years proves to me that it is possible. Throughout this week, we’ve gone over some prophecies of Christ’s birth. This one friend of my mother-in-law only predicted the date of birth for a woman who was already evidently pregnant. The prophets who predicted the birth of Christ told of a Savior Who was coming, centuries before it happened.
They knew that a Savior would come, and that He would be the Son of God. They knew He would bring restoration to our broken world. They even knew what town He would be born in. Micah 5:2 says, “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.”
The passage continues, saying that Jesus will come to Shepherd His flock, that they will dwell secure in Him, and that He will be their peace (5:4-5). Israel had experienced sieges, wars, and persecution at the hands of other nations. They had experienced oppression by mighty rulers. Yet in this passage, Micah says that out of an insignificant town will come a Ruler who will bring hope. This contrasts to the violence they’re familiar with. A ruler will come who will “great to the ends of the earth” (5:4). Yet this ruler would not bring oppression, but would be their security. This ruler is Jesus.
Jesus is our hope too. We have an enemy, Satan, who seeks to tear us down and distract us from God. But Jesus conquered Satan through His life and death and resurrection. We have nothing to fear when we know Jesus as our Savior. He is our security and our shield. We don’t have to be afraid of sin, judgment, or death. Jesus has given us freedom from sin, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life with Him. He is our hope.
What is a fear that you have? Write it down and search for Scripture that hold truths of who Jesus is in that area of life. Write the verse(s) on a notecard to carry with you today as a reminder that He is your hope.