Mensa Otabil - Bethlehem Ephrathah
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We’re still looking at prophecies about the breath of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the third one for this week: Micah chapter five, verse two. «But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the one to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.» This prophecy pointed to the birthplace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many times, people would say, «How do you know this prophecy is not for somebody else and it refers to Jesus?» Because you would see that the person being spoken about has goings forth from old, from everlasting. This is somebody who possesses divinity or who has lived in eternity, who is going to be born. So, you know it’s not just talking about another human being.
The prophecy talks about the place where Jesus Christ will be born, and the town is called Bethlehem Ephrathah. Bethlehem means «house of bread» or «house of meat.» It indicates that there will be a place of God’s supply. Ephrathah means «fruitfulness.» So, if you put the two together—Bethlehem Ephrathah, a house of bread and house of fruitfulness—it would indicate or give you the impression that Bethlehem Ephrathah would be a place where things are in abundance, where things are working well, and where so much good is happening.
However, if you look at the story of Bethlehem Ephrathah at the time of Jesus’s birth, it was not a prosperous town. Its name indicated prosperity, but its reality was not prosperous. The second thing you should note about this place is the position that Bethlehem Ephrathah occupies. The passage says that it is little among the thousands; in comparison to the other towns of Judah, it is a very small town. The name is big, but the reality is very small.
Sometimes, people seem to have a great promise, but the reality is very small. But that is not the end. The place, the position, the promise—there is a promise for Bethlehem Ephrathah. Micah’s prophecy speaks about the promise of Bethlehem. It is small, but it has a great future because God says, «Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the one to be ruler in Israel.» Out of this small town will come a ruler. Isn’t God amazing that He picks rulers from small places? You would think that He would pick a ruler from a very prominent home, a prominent house.
But from a small town, Bethlehem Ephrathah, which seems to have been ignored for many centuries, is now chosen by God to birth the ruler, the Son of God. Bethlehem’s greatness was not in its size but within her: «Out of you shall come the ruler.» I just want to use this message to speak to you. Maybe you look at yourself and think, «Oh, I haven’t achieved much; I haven’t done much. I’m small, I’m insignificant; I don’t think I can achieve much.» Yet out of you, God can birth something great.
I pray that the ruler hiding in you, the king hiding in you, the queen hiding in you shall come out of you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah. God’s hand is upon you, and His destiny is upon you; His purposes are upon you, and He will release greatness out of you. Today, as we think about this Christmas prophecy concerning the birthplace of Jesus Christ, may the Lord bring you out from obscurity and manifest you to the world in Jesus' name. Amen.
All right, let’s pray together. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, You have shown that You can raise greatness from unexpected places. Let greatness come out of me, Lord, in Jesus' name. Amen and amen.» Yes, you may seem little among the thousands, but out of you shall come something great and wonderful. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.