But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old.

God does unexpected things. His thoughts are not our thoughts, His timescale is not ours. As Isaiah 55:9 says, “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” The book of Micah was written long after King David’s rule and after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Perhaps 700 years before the birth of Christ, Micah predicted the Messiah’s birth in tiny Bethlehem, a town of perhaps 300 people six miles south of Jerusalem.

Bethlehem was also the birthplace of King David. God told the prophet Samuel to go to Bethlehem and choose one of Jesse’s sons to be king in place of King Saul. Jesse had eight sons. Samuel looked at the older seven sons and thought one of the tall, mature, older sons would be God’s choice. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

God’s choices make us hopeful that He can use each of us, too. The Lord works with electrons, atoms, raindrops, snowflakes, children—small things. God values humble people to accomplish His will. He chose as Messiah a person who never owned a home, had no bank account, had no armies. He chose a carpenter’s son from a small village. God cares for us too. We may not be from a powerful, notable, wealthy family, but I am sure God can use the gifts we have.

Contributed by Don Steinkraus