Micah may not be the most familiar character in the Bible, but his life can teach us some important lessons. He was a contemporary of Isaiah and was the last prophet God sent to Israel. Micah warned that judgment was near. Much to the surprise of those living in Israel, God did exactly what Micah had prophesied.
Micah’s assessment of Israel was shockingly blunt. “You stay up late to plan your next day’s sin,” he accused. It was obvious that evil deeds were not simply an occasional mistake, but the usual way of doing things. Idolatry, immorality, and rebellion were rampant. “All God wants from you is that you do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God,” he insisted. It seemed an easy choice to Micah. Right living would bring a right relationship with their God. Continued rebellion would bring judgment. Micah envisioned a court scene in which God was prosecutor, witness, and judge. The verdict would not be pretty, and the sentence would not be easy.
Israel must have been a very difficult place for a man of righteousness to live, but Micah made one thing abundantly clear to those around him: he was living for God, whether anyone else did, or not. His statement of faith in Micah 7 is worth having as our own.
“As for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me.
Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy.
Though I fall I will rise;
Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.”
Micah 7:7-8 nasb
Look carefully at Micah’s words. He recognizes that he’ll make mistakes. He knows he will sin. The difference between Micah and those around him is that Micah doesn’t expect to stay down when he falls. He plans ahead of time to get back up and try again. He knows he doesn’t have to wander in the darkness of sin, wondering what he should do next or which way he should go. God is, and will continue to be, the light on his path. He doesn’t have to be afraid. Micah knows that, when he calls out to God, He will hear. He knows God is listening, and he knows He will answer. Micah is so confident of God’s active involvement in his life that he is on the edge of his seat eagerly watching to see what God will do next.
Do you, like Micah, feel as if you are living in a dark and sin-infested place? Are the people around you headed for the calamity of judgment or the blessings of obedience? If you feel overwhelmed in the midst of the society in which you find yourself, remember the truth of Micah’s life. God is who He says He is, and He does what He says He’ll do. When you fall, He’ll lift you up. When you can’t find your way, He’ll be your light. You can count on Him, so keep your eyes open. You never know what He’ll do next, and you certainly don’t want to miss it. All He asks of you is to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. He’ll take care of all the rest.
©6/2006 Leanna Hollis
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