Advent Reader: Keep Believing

Micah 5:2

I love the movie A Knight’s Tale, with Heath Ledger, after all he is an Aussie. The movie is about changing your stars, a thatcher’s son becomes a Knight because his dad gives him a dream and encourages him to reach for what is unattainable to the average man. It requires a lot of sacrifice, effort, courage and some deception. He becomes a Knight not by the usual route of entitlement and papers, but by winning the respect of the black Prince who recognises the courage it takes to be a knight, true of heart, shooting straight for the target. The Prince steps in on a desperate Heath and bestows a Knighthood on him, undeserved but by grace. In Micah 5;2 we have these prophetic words to a nation in trouble from being led astray in sin, by false worship by their Kings.

When we lose hope it's hard to see past what our experiences are telling us. It's hard to see what can be done. We feel small, insignificant, and hopelessness overwhelms us. We often need someone outside to show us the way forward and encourage us, give us hope. Here, God’s word through Micah tells them that although your small one will come to rule Israel from old, ancient days. This shows the authority and divinity that is Jesus' eternal nature. Things are looking up: HOPE. Also, it encourages them, although they’re small, God can use them regardless of their status.

The fulfilment of this prophecy strengthens the reliability of Scripture and God’s faithfulness to His promises, then and now. I love this bit; the precise fulfilment, given hundreds of years before it happened, exactly as described. As believers we can have hope and confidence that He will fulfil all His promises to us. Oh what a Saviour!