Ancient Days

January 22 - From of Old

Read: Micah 5 and Luke 2:1-7

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2 ESV)

The Old Testament prophet Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born in the town of Bethlehem about 700 years before the birth of Jesus. Just one of many dozens of Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus, Micah's words help to paint us a picture of an ancient plan put into motion by God.

Come forth for me. Jesus came to reestablish man's connection with God. He did it for God, by God, as God. Not because God needs us, but because He wants us. There is far more comfort in the reality of knowing that God actually wants us, rather than the idea that He might need us.

From of old. Jesus came from somewhere, somewhen, and someone. None of it was random, accidental, or incidental. It was purposed. It was purposeful. There was a plan. A plan that went into motion before its necessity ever became a reality.

From ancient days. Jesus is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the World. Before Adam fell, David committed adultery, or you did that thing you weren't supposed to, Jesus was set apart to be our way back to God. The Redemptive Plan was there and waiting for the time when it would be needed. We serve a savior that reaches across the ages and eons to fulfill the Father's heart for a wayward people.