Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Micah speaks hope into a time of threat and uncertainty. He points to a ruler coming from Bethlehem, but not a new person at all, someone ancient, even beyond what the people could fully grasp. This ruler would shepherd God’s people using God’s own strength, and his influence would extend far beyond Israel. It sounds a lot like Jesus to me.
It’s hard not to see Jesus here. Bethlehem, a shepherd-like ruler, and a greatness that reaches the whole earth all line up clearly. For me, this passage is less about action and more about confidence. Jesus really is the promised Messiah, and history is not drifting aimlessly. Christmas is about much more than a baby in a manger, a stable, or a silent night with shepherds and animals (come to think of it, that doesn’t feel very silent at all). Instead it’s about an ancient promise of God leading his people and setting everything aright.