“And you, Bethlehem Ephrata, are a little one among the thousands of Judah. From you will go forth he who shall be the ruler in Israel, and his landing place has been set from the beginning, from the days of eternity.” (Micah 5:2)
The prophet Micah foretells that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, a small and seemingly insignificant town. The Lord, in His wisdom, often chooses what is humble and overlooked to accomplish His greatest works. The birth of Christ in Bethlehem demonstrates that God’s ways are not man’s ways—He exalts the lowly and brings salvation through humble beginnings. This prophecy also reveals the eternal nature of Christ: “his landing place has been set from the beginning, from the days of eternity.” The New Revised Standard Version reads: “whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” Jesus is the eternal Word of God, who was with the Father from the beginning. His arrival in Bethlehem was both a fulfilment of prophecy and the unfolding of God’s plan of redemption.
Advent calls us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary, to recognise that God works through the small, the humble, and the quiet to reveal His glory. May we open our hearts to the King born in a humble stable and marvel at His eternal majesty.
Take time to reflect on a moment in your life when the Lord worked through something small or unexpected. Share this story with someone today as a testimony of God’s wisdom and faithfulness.
Heavenly Father, You chose Bethlehem, a humble place, as the birthplace of the eternal King. Teach us to see Your hand at work in the simple and unexpected moments of our lives. May we welcome Christ into our hearts and honour Him as our eternal Saviour and Lord. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
