In the midst of news of destructions, Micah 5:2 suddenly pulls back the veil of history and tells us of something even more important. The Book of Micah warns of the coming destructions of both Samaria (capitol of Israel) and Jerusalem (capitol of Judah). The following chapters detail the woes anticipated to come because those in all stations of national life have ignored or turned their backs on God. Then in Chapter 4 the LORD changes the focus to what He will be accomplishing in establishing His reign in Zion and how in ‘latter days’ nations’ focus will turn to Him and all that honors Him—His ‘entering in’ intervention in a day yet to come. He reveals a brief glimpse of His personal participation to make this possible. While ‘siege is laid against us, while they strike against’ Him, He enters the scene:
Micah, seven hundred years before the event, provides record of the birthplace of Jesus which will be quoted in Matthew 2:6 2 when Herod asks where Scriptures say the Messiah will be born.
‘Too little’ is mention of just how small and unimportant Bethlehem would be in the future. It did have historic significance as the burial place of Rachel, several mentions in Judges and as the home of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz and the village where David was born. But for all that, its smallness renders it insignificant until God reveals it is to be the ‘coming forth’ birthplace of ‘One whose coming forth is from old, from ancient days’. The literal translation is ‘from long ago, from the days of eternity.’
One who comes from eternity must by definition come from before Creation, beyond the beginning. Only one of Godhead Three will became Incarnate—that was, and is, and will always be, Jesus the Christ.
So when you are reading or muddling through the Old Testament, don’t be surprised to find little glimpses of Truth that will someday change the world.