Micah 5:2
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
Bethlehem was never able to rise above obscurity in old times. It was so irrelevant that Joshua never mentioned it when he listed the cities of Judah. It never grew in size even though it was the birthplace of David. It was not mentioned by Nehemiah in his list of Judean cities. It was truly a city that was irrelevant to most Jews.
Yet, when God chooses to bless something or someone, it doesn’t matter its size or status, God’s blessing will take it from where it is to where He wants it to be. Such is the case with Bethlehem. It says in the verse above, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah…” This verse prophesied the coming of the Messiah. This verse teaches that the Messiah would be born in little ole Bethlehem. What once was a city of irrelevancy is now a city that most people know about. If you mention the city of Bethlehem to most people on the street, they will at least recognize the name and most will know that it is the city where Jesus was born. This changing of venues for this city should teach us several lessons.
First, you don’t get God’s attention because of status or size. Society pushes the thought that you will never be recognized until you have status or size. This is why many people do some of the craziest things just so they can gain recognition. God doesn’t need your help to bless you. He is powerful enough to do it on His own. You can read through the Scriptures and see how often God has taken the irrelevant and made them relevant on His own. You must always remember that God doesn’t need your connections to bless you.
Second, God’s blessings are more important than status. It is interesting that there were many other cities God could have chosen, but He chose to bless an irrelevant city that most of the men of God never mentioned. It is more important that you live in such a manner as to get God’s blessings over the recognition of man. Many people do all they can to be recognized by those in power thinking that it will help them to rise to relevancy only to find out that it doesn’t bring God’s blessings. The only thing that will help a person rise to relevancy is God’s blessings. God’s blessings do not fall on those who try to become relevant, but they fall on those who could care less about relevancy and about doing right. Doing right must be your focus in life.
Third, man cannot undo what God blesses. I often tell people that if man sets you up, then man can take you down; however, if God blesses you and sets you up, then no man can take you down. The most important thing you can do is live your life to be blessed by God. Status is irrelevant in God’s eyes. He looks to bless those who do right.
Friend, your status doesn’t determine God’s blessings on your life. You just need to keep doing right and God will bless. God knows where you live and He knows how to find you. If you will keep doing right, then you will find His blessings on your life.