Mensa Otabil - You Shall Come Forth (10/19/2025)
We are looking at a Christmas story and examining prophecies leading to the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we look at another prophecy from the Book of Micah, chapter 5, verse 2. It says, «But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, 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 is a very interesting prophecy because it’s talking about someone who is everlasting, an eternal being, and it calls this person a ruler of Israel. So, definitely, it will not be a physical, natural ruler of Israel because none of them are everlasting; each one of them is finite and moves on. This is a significant prophecy, speaking about an individual who would emerge from Israel and would have an everlasting heritage, meaning an eternal being who will become the ruler of Israel.
That is why this is seen as a Messianic prophecy, as it is not just referring to a normal, natural leader of Israel. It states that this person will be born in Bethlehem Ephrata. Ephrata was a town among the tribe of Judah, and, of course, that was a place where David came from, the second king of Israel. This Messiah would also come from the city of David, Bethlehem Ephrata. The town is associated with two names: Bethlehem means «House of Bread,» indicating it was a place of supply, a place where people find food.
Probably in its history, Bethlehem was a place of abundance of bread, and Ephrata means «fruitfulness,» a place where things flourish. So, Bethlehem Ephrata is supposed to be a flourishing place, a fruitful place, a place of bread. However, the passage goes on to say that it is little among the thousands; in other words, among the towns of Judah, Bethlehem Ephrata is small, insignificant, and not a very major city. It is not the most important city in Judah.
So, how come God chose Bethlehem Ephrata? That is the thing about God-His promises always come to us in ways that beat our understanding. Sometimes, you think that someone is in a small town, from a small place, or feels insignificant, and yet God places His eyes on that person. That is what He did for Bethlehem Ephrata, not to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, which was also in Judah, but to Bethlehem Ephrata, a small and insignificant town. He says, «Yet out of you shall come this everlasting one who shall bear rule over Israel.»
When you know the Jesus story, that is where Jesus was born — Bethlehem Ephrata. His parents had to journey there for Him to be born, but God had spoken about it way ahead of time, that the everlasting one, the eternal one, would emerge as a ruler and would be born in Bethlehem Ephrata. So, wherever you are in life, whatever situation you are in, the story of Jesus and Christmas tells us that God will not despise you because of the insignificance of your life, your birth, your hometown, your parentage, or your own achievements. God is able to bless you, make you fruitful, and turn you into a supply center so that you can also be the Bethlehem Ephrata of your family, your nation, or your community; that you become the house of bread and the place of fruitfulness. May the Lord’s blessing come upon you this Christmas season.
Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, you have made me with potential and purpose. Let greatness come out of me in Jesus' name. Amen and amen.» Well, I’ll catch you again tomorrow. Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.