Little
Is Much When God Is In It!
Micah 5:2: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
1. The Ruler
2. Bethlehem Ephratah
3. So Little
1. The Ruler
The “ruler” of interest in the book of beginnings is Joseph.
Joseph was that “little”, and insignificant Hebrew boy, yet though he was “little” among his brothers, he was destined to become the great “ruler over all the land of Egypt.”
See this in Genesis chapter forty-one, verse forty-three: “And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.” [Genesis 41:43]
There is something very prophetic here, and is pointing to another who will be “ruler”.
Here is another prophecy.
Someday there will be sent a [special] lamb “to the ruler of the land”; [this is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled]. The prophet who has prophesied this to come true is Isaiah. See this prophesy for yourself in Isaiah chapter sixteen, verse one: “Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.” [Isaiah 16:1]
This is a lamb … as like the Lamb of God … which is to be sent to the KING who reigns in the millennial Kingdom of Heaven.
Now, come down to verse five, and see if this thing is true: “And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.” [Isaiah 16:5]
Now, this is the scene. There is a “ruler” here who is sitting on a “throne”. Notice, “he” is sitting upon the throne “in truth”.
[Let me pause here for a moment to ask you this question. What is truth? Do you know the answer? The answer is located in John chapter seventeen, in verse seventeen. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” [John 17:17]]
Further, this “throne” is … “established”. Now, do you see the word “mercy” in this verse? That “throne” is “established” … in “mercy”.
We need mercy!
We can see this mercy which is shown to us … in Ephesians chapter two, verse four: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” [Ephesians 2:4]. This great love wherewith God has loved us is rooted in the great riches of His mercy!
There is something else to be seen here! The “ruler” is sitting on a “throne” “in the tabernacle of David”. This is the literal Davidic Kingdom which is coming to this earth soon. Amen!
Now, in Micah chapter five, verse two, we learn again … it is all about a “ruler”.
Now, what does a “ruler” do? Well, a “ruler” governs. A “ruler” is one who rules the people.
How shall we view the “ruler”? God Himself tells us how we are to properly relate to the ruler [in this BOOK]. This BOOK says we are to honor the “ruler” and to respect the “ruler”.
The Bible tells us in Exodus chapter twenty-two, verse twenty-eight: “Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.” [Exodus 22:28] There you have it! The inverse of “curse” is to respect … to honor! Do you, my friend, honor the rulers over you?
We all can get into the trouble here. Even the Apostle Paul himself bumped up against this commandment [like a lot of us do] when he was contending with the “brethren” in his day [with the leaders of Israel and with the High Priest]. Read … in the book of Acts chapter twenty-three, verse five: “Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.” [Acts 23:5]
2. Bethlehem Ephratah
Now, let’s consider some facts about a “little” city in the Judean hills south of Jerusalem.
It is in the book of beginnings [Genesis] where we find that it was “in the way” to Bethlehem Ephratah where Jacob’s wife Rachel died and was buried. “And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.” [Genesis 35:19]
David the King of Israel was born in Bethlehem. Therefore, Bethlehem is the city of David.
Read from Luke chapter two, verse four: “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)” [Luke 2:4]3.
So Little Bethlehem is “little”.
Now, things that are “little” and small … seem to be rather unimportant, and in fact, will often escape our attention. We seem to only focus on the big things [to our own hurt]. After all, something that is “little among the thousands” is not worthy of our attention [so we think]. But yet, [in truth] it is the “little” things that will get us in the end. The Bible shows us that it is the “little” foxes that spoil the vine [in the Song of Solomon chapter two, verse fifteen]: “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” [Song of Solomon 2:15]
Now, Bethlehem is indeed “little among the thousands of Judah” but Bethlehem, though seemingly insignificant in the eyes of all, was destined to figure big in the whole scheme of things in the world’s history.
Please note this: out of something that is “little” will come a “ruler of the people”.
There is one important thing we need to learn about the Bible, and it is this. When the Bible, [which is Scripture] and the God of the Bible, prophesies a happening, or an event, then the happening, or the event, will most certainly come true. Let me add this. Once the happening, or event, is fulfilled, then that happening, or event, becomes a historical event [History].
All prophecy, therefore, becomes literal history.
Now, here is a historical fact. Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem in direct fulfillment to the prophecy here in Micah. We can see this in the book of Matthew chapter two: verses one through six, which see: “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.” [Matthew 2:1-6]
Whenever and whatever, the Scriptures speaks, it comes true. [John 7:42] “Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” Did you notice something here? The Scripture is a Person: “the scripture said.”
We have an amazing BOOK! It’s alive! [Hebrews 4:12] “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
In conclusion: this “ruler in Israel” has had no beginning, nor will He have an end according to book of Revelation chapter one, verse eight: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” [Revelation 1:8]
This is how we will close with our verse in Micah chapter five: His “goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Amen
Little is much when God is in it!