December 9 | Micah 5:2-5a

pmann79
5 days ago
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

God’s Plan for the Little Guy

By Pam Mann

What a prophecy Micah has for small-town Bethlehem! Don’t our hearts rejoice at how God uses the little guy to do great things? Don’t we all root for the underdog in fiction and in sports?

Here is little Bethlehem, always overshadowed by mighty Jerusalem on the heights. Now at last, Bethlehem is called into the game. God loves using the little guy to lead in the unexpected moment of grace intervention. When life looks its grimmest, when the weight of much-deserved judgment seems to have smothered out any glimmer of hope, then grace takes the field...as the little guy.

What a master of dramatic tension and what a crafter of surprise plot twists our God is! The stakes could not be higher for all of humanity. Micah uses images that every human culture understands: a woman in labor, a shepherd tending flocks, and (the image that strikes terror) a huge invading army. These three concepts make an odd match-up. On one hand, the ideas of childbirth and military invasion both pull from us hopeful prayers for a good outcome when we know death could be closing in. The central image of a strong shepherd who will be there for the sheep is exactly the calm security for which both the laboring woman and those who are soon to be attacked long to know anew.

We, who today are reading this text, know how easily peace eludes us, whether personally or citywide. Our souls long to know that there might be a Shepherd, ever vigilant, who guards us. We regularly pray: “Deliver us from evil,” because our world is broken and our souls are sinful. Judgment, which we rightly deserve, is upon us. We long for rescue which we do not rightly deserve.

How can we trust that rescue is coming when all around us life looks grim? Micah has announced judgment, but he also reminds of who God is and how faithful His promises are, even to faithless humans, like us!

On a global level, God is true to His word and will act justly. And that’s not all. God is such a mighty God that His promises are true for the individual as well. No one is too great and no one is too small.

So, take heart when you feel yourself as insignificant as the third string on the bench. Train daily. Train hard as if God could call you into the game at any moment. Stay alert; watch for what God is doing; pray for those around you. Why? Because you have the kind of God who chooses small town Bethlehem. And that’s not all. God chooses you!

PRAYER

Thank You, Lord, for who You are and how You move in human history. Remind us today how You can do anything anywhere with anybody, including us, because You are that mighty and that full of surprises.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PAM MANN

I first joined UALC when my husband (then my fiancé) and I were college students involved in youth ministry. God has used UALC to nurture our family’s faith, even in our years outside the U.S. I’ve participated in UALC ministries with kids, art, prayer, exercise, ESL, and Bible teaching. I do all the fun church things.