Welcome to Day 149 of the “Manna for the Mind” devotional! This series is about finding nourishment in the Word of God to get us through the day. In each devotional, I take a variety of scripture passages (typically 1-3 verses each) and build our understanding of what they teach via their context and connecting scripture. My goal is to help you understand how to be the type of human God created you to be.

Today’s passage is Matthew 2:4-6. We’ll discuss one of Micah’s prophecies.

Matthew 2:4-6

NASB	NLT	VOICE
4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.	4 He called a meeting of leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”	4 So Herod called all of the leading Jewish teachers, the chief priests and head scribes, and he asked them where Hebrew tradition claimed the long-awaited Anointed One would be born.
5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:	5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:	5 An ancient Hebrew prophet, Micah, said this:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, Land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for from you will come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”	6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”	6 But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are no poor relation – For from your people will come a Ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.

The leading priests and teachers of religious law were aware of Micah 5:2 (more on that later) and the other prophecies about Jesus. Matthew repeatedly highlighted both their knowledge and their unbelief. The wise men’s news troubled King Herod because he knew that the Jewish people expected the Messiah sometime soon. Most Jews expected the Messiah to be a great military and political deliverer (see Psalm 2 and 1 Samuel 2:1-10). Herod’s counselors would have relayed this information to Herod. Most religious leaders believed in a literal fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies. They believed the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Ironically, these same religious leaders became this baby’s greatest enemies. When the Messiah they had been waiting for finally came, they didn’t recognize him.

Who do you picture the Messiah to be? Do you believe in the military and political divine leader? Someone who will come to earth to enforce his power in the world to push the agenda and plans for God in this world. Someone who will destroy and take down those who oppose God’s will. Or do you believe in a loving and compassionate Savior who came to serve and care for the marginalized? Someone who will lead the world with love. Someone who will share compassion with those who might not want it. Someone who will reconcile with their enemies to accomplish God’s will. Someone who will teach us how to use the gifts God instilled in all of us.

Micah 5:2

NASB	NLT	VOICE
2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”	2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.	2 But you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, of the clans of Judah, are no poor relation – From your people will come a Ruler who will be the shepherd of My people, Israel, Whose origins date back to the distant past, to the ancient days.

Ephrathah was the district where Bethlehem was located. It was where King David was born and raised and was initially anointed as king. The ruler from the prophecy, though, is Jesus. Micah accurately predicted Jesus’ birthplace hundreds of years before his actual birth. The promised eternal king in David’s line, who would come to live as a man, had been alive forever – his “origins are in the distant past.” Although eternal, the Messiah entered human history as a man – Jesus of Nazareth.

It’s hard for us to wrap our minds that Jesus was a human and that we can connect with them on that level. We know Jesus for his servanthood, divine power, and miracle-working ability. We hardly focus on the ability of Jesus to be hungry, scared, anxious, thirsty, warm, cold, sick, etc. Jesus was human, not just to show us how to live like God created us to live, but to show how we can connect with God as a human.

BREATHE IN: God is with us…

BREATHE OUT: …and we are with God.

Until next time, stay blessed!