A Season of Promises Fulfilled: House of Bread

Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity.” – Micah 5:2

West Tennessee has some crazy town names: Three Way, Frog Jump, Bucksnort, Milan (pronounced MY-lynn) and Medina (pronounced Muh-DINE-uh). I like to think Bethlehem had a similar reputation. Micah writes that it is a small clan in Judah. And study of the Hebrew language reveals that it actually means “House of Bread.” Bethlehem would fit in nicely as a town near me.

So for a little town, this promise to have One come from it that will rule over Israel is HUGE! During this Christmas season, we can see God’s hand at work in keeping this promise to Bethlehem.

God isn’t flying by the seat of his pants. He has a plan that He revealed glimpses of to us through Scripture. And it all starts with David. 1 Samuel 16 tells the story of God sending Samuel to Bethlehem for He has selected a king from one of the sons of Jesse. Who is this son? It’s David.

God is in control even when it looks like mankind has the decision power. It was no coincidence that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Luke 2 records that Caesar Augustus made a decree that a census should be taken. This meant that everyone had to return to the land of their families. For Joseph, this meant going to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, with his extremely pregnant wife Mary. Caesar Augustus had no idea that, by requiring a census, he would bring Jesus into Bethlehem to be born.

God doesn’t tell us everything, but He tells us enough. Matthew 2 tells us that the wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem and asked, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” Of course King Herod was greatly disturbed; he believed that He was king of the Jews! So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes to ask them where the Messiah would be born. And what did they all reply? In Bethlehem of Judea, because they were all aware of the prophecy in the book of Micah. God didn’t publish a release date for the Messiah but rather provided just enough details that believers would have to cling to Him in faith.

 ^{The story of the Little Town of Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah is more than a quaint song, it is a proclamation that we serve a God who keeps His promises.} 

To read more Promises Fulfilled, click here.