History Books in 90 Days: Judges 20-21
BORN IN BETHLEHEM
Forecast: Micah 5:2 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. (ESV)
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1 1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod
the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem (ESV)
According to the prophecy in Micah, Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem, sounds pretty simple
except that as Jesus birth grew near, Mary was actually living in the wrong place if her Son,
the Messiah, was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea. Yet God’s providence shines as He fulfills
His prophetic Word. A census was God’s answer. In the days of slow communication and even
slower travel, somehow, miraculously, Mary and Joseph ended up in Bethlehem – just in time
for the birth of their Son, the Messiah. Who was in charge of this timing? God was! God works
behind the scenes and is in complete control, He had timed everything right down to the last
second. God leaves nothing to chance! Is this a God that you can trust? Does God being in
complete control provide you with HOPE? Many of us are unwilling to see the hand of God’s
infinite planning of the details of Christ’s birth and His hand in executing all prophesied details of
that birth. We have heard this story time and time again that we have forgotten how significant it
is. Every pen stroke, every dot, every iota of the prophecies of God will be fulfilled. This should
provide us with much HOPE!
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Have you become apathetic toward the miracles that surround Christ’s birth? Ask the Lord
to show you why. Then confess that apathy and ask Him to fulfill you with renewed vigour
and joy towards Him and His greatness.
2. Spend some time praising and thanking the Lord for His sovereignty and that He is in
complete control.
3. In what area of your life do you need to feel His sovereignty? Submit that area over to Him
today.
