“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Micah 5:2

A couple of days ago I read a brief post a pastor wrote for his church. Since it was December 7th, he wrote of Pearl Harbor, but if there was never an attack, would we know of Pearl Harbor.

Patrina and I visited the memorial and museum while in Hawaii last year and as we looked through the exhibits it was clear what a small rural place Pearl Harbor was at the time. Unfortunately, the Japanese attack put Pearl Harbor on the map.

And so when we sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” it speaks the truth. Bethlehem was also small and insignificant. Located just a few miles from Jerusalem, it was among the smallest of villages in Judah and the greatest boast was that it was the hometown of King David, until Micah’s prophecy was fulfilled two thousand years ago or so.

Bethlehem is important, because, before Jesus was born, God made many promises about how he would send a Savior-someone who would make things right between God and mankind once and for all and His life would begin in a small, insignificant village in Judah.

Micah’s words were written several hundred years before the birth of Christ, so while the people were looking for the Savior, they had to wait. And wait. Generation after generation. Still they waited.

God’s promise was fulfilled in due time. Jesus was born in the exact way, place and manner described in Scripture, so we can be confident that He will keep every promise He makes.

Still, waiting is part of the process, even today. How many of us are waiting for something we are believing God for today? The message is for us to keep our hope in God alive.