Micah lived in a time when ordinary
people could see what powerful people would not. They could see bad things were
happening, and worse was coming. Their national leaders, of government and
business, were indecisive. They had a hard time making hard decisions and a
harder time sticking with them; they were easily bullied by their more powerful
leaders. Ordinary people could see signs their enemies were preparing to
do battle. The leaders were over confident that God was on their side, that
their rituals and sacrifices protected them. The idea of their fall was
unbelievable. God spoke through Micah with several promises. God promised that
what ordinary people could see was exactly right. No one need think that
believing certain things about God, or certain ways of worshipping God, would
make them immune from disaster. In fact, the damage done by their enemies
wouldn’t be their enemies doing at all, but God’s! God would use their enemies
to break down those people and that was bad news no one wanted to hear.
However, God also promised that their fall wouldn’t be the end of their story.
Their fall to their enemies wouldn’t be final. God would only tear them down in
order to build them up. The people would be restored. Those scattered like
sheep would be brought back to the flock. Suffering now would not be for
nothing. God would rule over them in peace when they were ready to let
God to rule over them.
Prayer: Dear God make us clear-headed
enough to see what is true in our own lives, whatever it may be. When the truth
is painful may we not resist it and when it is good may we have the faith to
accept it and celebrate it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Arnold Nelson
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