“But you, Bethlehem, the fruitful, are little among the thousands of Judah; yet out of you shall come forth to me the One who will rule over Israel, whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)
This “goings forth” of the promised Messiah had been from the very beginning of Time, prophetically. (The first prophetic promise is in Genesis 3:15). Note that Messiah would not only rule over his own tribe of Judah, but also over Israel the nation.
God delights in making something big out of something little, someone great out of someone relatively unknown. “What are these (five flat loaves and two small fish) among so many?” As much as 5000 hungry people needed.
The “son” that God promised to bless was David, who was from Bethlehem. If he committed iniquity (serious sin), the LORD would punish him with “the rod of men”; that is, would raise up enemies whose personal attacks would drive him to repentance and prayer (2 Chronicles 7:14). But the writer of Hebrews lifts this prophecy to a higher level when he applies it to Jesus, the Son of God (Hebrews 1:5). Again, the “little” (by comparison) David becomes the “great” Son of David, and then the Saviour of the world!
The Great Plan and Purpose of God (as seen in time) began not in a glorious palace but in a humble stable. You might like to think about this as the world throws products at you over television in the days left till Christmas. If you do give loved ones gifts, don’t splurge but give them what will speak to their innermost need.
When I think of what the Lord has planned for me and the clock seems to be running down fast, I think of what Jesus did in less than a day, and more particularly on one afternoon in three short hours. Whoever made that rough wooden cross on which the Saviour of the world hung, bled and died, hadn’t a clue as to what God would use it to accomplish.
So, don’t think London, or New York, or Beijing, or Berlin. Think bigger, think Bethlehem.