“You, Bethlehem . . . though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.”
— Micah 5:2
Have you ever seen one of those t-shirts that says, ‘WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ?’ and has the name of some itty-bitty place that doesn’t even have a Wal-Mart? Like Bucksnort, Tennessee?
That was the attitude people back in Old Testament times had about Bethlehem. It was one of the smallest, puniest villages in Israel. But God promised that the One he was sending to save his poor, outcast people would come from that little bend-in-the-road place.
Far away to the East, some magi believed they saw a message in the stars. They arrived in Jerusalem and asked around, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” Now, there was already a king in Jerusalem, a very bad dude named Herod, who was freaked out at the suggestion that somebody else was going to kick him off the throne. In a panic, he called his advisors and asked them where this king, this Christ, was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written.” Little did Herod know that Jesus Christ had already been born there. God had kept his promise.
More To Explore: Joshua 21:45
Girl Talk: Think about a grown-up who does a lot to take care of you, like your mom or dad. What promises do you think they’ve made to themselves to keep you safe and happy?
God Talk: “Lord, thank you that you always keep your promises! And thank you that you kept your promise to send your Son into the world. Amen.”
From That Is So Me by Nancy Rue