Text: Micah 2:12-13
Theme: Unknown ways and unfamiliar Paths
Introduction: Happy New Year 2021!
I greet you all in the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
God spoke to Prophet Isaiah that he is going to lead his Son Israel. He told Isaiah that He would guide them, turn their darkness into light, make the rough places into smooth places, turn the mountains into level roads and highways will be raised (Isaiah 40:4-5).
The ways of men are like the blind leading the blind, both will fall into the ditch, and inescapable bottomless pit, even the Prophets and priests became blindfolded (Isaiah 42:16).
Thoppur the Ghat Road between Dharmapuri and Salem (India) was known for severe accidents. On December 12, 2020, a truck loaded with cement bags ramped onto 15 cars piled up on the road for traffic clearance. Four were crushed into death, and four succumbed to injuries. One of the reasons for many accidents is the improper laying road through the ghats or mountain ranges.
1. Obstacles on the way
The Context of Prophet Micah: During Judean Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were evil and unpleasant days. Micah had visions about Jerusalem and Samaria (Micah 1:1). The sins of Jacob and Israel were known to all (Micah 1:5).
The Unethical practice was part of the lifestyles, and it was a plan wickedness, make evil plans were ways of the community (Micah 2:1-5).
People loved false prophets and had itching ears to hear the false promises (Micah 2;11). Samaria encouraged earning money through unethical means and ways(Micah 1:7).
Leaders of Israel hated good people and their good deeds they planned the wicked people and their evil works (Micah 3:2). Prophets ate in the wicked men's tents and greeted “Peace” to you (Micah 3:5). Judges took the money, and delivered the wrong decisions, and passed orders in favor of Criminals (Micah 3:11). Rich people did cruel things and told lies (Micah 6:12).
The best of the men were like a thorn bush, and most honest of them was a prickly plant. Everyone was cheating on their friends, spouses, Kith and Kin, and neighbors (Micah 7:2-6). Decisions are made with personal gains without understanding the pains of the poor, needy, weak, and orphans. Justice is denied and delivered late to the victims.
Are we not in the same situation today? We often murmur against all these things and burn within ourselves. Yarning with the long breath for the relief and release. God is aware of all your obstacles.
Story of a Boulder on the Way: There was a king who wanted to know the attitude of His citizens. He brought a big Boulder or Stone and kept on the road. He watched from a bush. Merchants came and went aside. Pandits came and went aside. The farmer came and put his bags on the roadside. He removed the rolled away from the big stone, thinking that let others enjoy the journey. While rolling the stone with perspiration and wiped his sweats and found on the bottom of that Stone there was a bag full of Gold Coins. There was an inscription: This bag belongs to the one who removes the obstacle” by Order, KING.
Those who overcome the Obstacles with the help of the Holy Spirit and by the word of God are going to be blessed with wonderful blessings this year. God would lead you through Unknown ways and unfamiliar Paths in 2021. Just trust and Obey.
2. Obstacles Remover
The Text of Micah 2:12-13 from the Amplified Bible: “The Breaker [the Messiah] will go up before them. They will break through, pass in through the gate and go out through it, and their King will pass on before them, the Lord at their head” (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).
God is going to lead the homebound people! And all confined to many things, and lead them out into the open. They’ll follow their King. I will be out in front leading them (The Message).
Their leader breaks out first, then all break through the gate and escape. Their king will show the way, and the Eternal One will lead them (The Voice).
The remover of the Obstacles comes from Ephrata of Bethlehem(Micah 5:2). Life is full of struggles and obstacles but Messiah is with us to move on and remove all the confinements and homebound situations. We have a person to carry us beyond the rivers of struggles. He will remove all the obstacles.
Are you facing some obstacles in your life? The obstacle in getting the right Job, the right wage. Are you going through childlessness, is your promotion is blocked by someone who is against you?
The messiah goes before you and he has already rolled away from your obstacles this year. God is greater than you and your problems. He has appointed a person to be your defender, fighter, and guard. He will lead you. He is none other than JESUS CHRIST.
Remember what had happened on the day of Resurrection or so-called easter day morning. The women went to the graveyard of Jesus Christ with disappointments, with deep sorrow and cries. They were discussing among themselves who will roll away the stone kept in front of the Tomb of Christ, but after the conversation, they just looked up and saw that the stone was rolled away (Mark 16:3-4).
The Lord is so much concerned about people who are worried, crying with deep sorrow, and looking for a remover. He has sent his angels on that day, even today, he will send in the same manner. Don’t approach God with all your preconceived ideas. Tell him what is your problem. He will deal with the matter.
Divinely ways are described, and inscribed in the tablet of God. Today, we are given in the printed and electronic forms as the Bible (Psalm 18:30). The Lord is righteous in all His ways, that means, in all his dealings with his beloved and chosen people are right, though many at times look like not pleasant ways to sail through (Psalm 145:17).
His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). So, Habakkuk called the people to look into their ways (Habakkuk 3:6). Jesus also talked about the high way and narrow ways (Matthew 7:14 and Luke 1:79). Jesus Christ has created access to the throne of grace, where we could find love and forgiveness of God (Hebrews 10:20).
3. Leader of the Unknown ways and Unfamiliar Paths
There is a difference always between going by self and lead by the guide or the leader. We are entering into 2021 with unknown ways and unfamiliar paths. If everything is crystal clear, why we need to sit at the feet of God, or why we are going to seek the help of a Person. The Lord calls his people to go after HIM (Micah 6:4).
The unsatisfied never follow God and they always have a thousand reasons to justify their acts. They earn but nothing stays with them, it is something like putting into a purse with has a hole. Their business is a failure, their efforts yield no result (Micah 6:14-15 & 7:13).
But the true followers of God will be Lion among the forest Animals, like young Lion in the flock of sheep for their enemies (Micah 5:8). God’s promise today to all of us is that we will walk over our enemies, they will be like mud under your feet (Micah 7:10), they will crawl like snakes on the dust of the earth but those who are with the Lord they will fly like eagles (Isaiah 40:31). You will be victorious and triumphant this year. Therefore, get up and beat your problems, The Lord makes you like a horn of iron and hoofs of Bronze (Micah 4:13).
It is amazing to learn the ways of the Lord throughout the Bible. We always admire the history of Abraham. He was a young man chosen by Yahweh for his deeper devotion and commitment. He was commanded by the Lord to commence his journey to the unknown land without Map. He had just listened to the Lord began his journey. His every step was ordered by God, and God established the ways of Abraham. The faith and trust of Abraham in God was counted as righteousness (Genesis 12-17).
What is the greatest threat in your life to disobey God, what is that sin? What is that desire of your heart? What is that one thing that blocks your progress? God would lead you through Unknown ways and unfamiliar Paths in 2021. Just trust and Obey.
Remember dear people of God, how God made ways through the Red Sea, He made roads through overflowing Jordan, He made streams in the desert. From the day the Israelites were released from the Bondage of Egypt to the day they were scattered again throughout Assyrian and Babylon Kingdoms in 722 BC and 586 BC, the care and protection of God was with them. The experienced and trained army officers were stumbled, perplexed, and requested Prophet Jeremiah to find out from the Lord through prayers and petitions which are the right ways to go and right things to do to save the people (Jeremiah 42:3). As Prophet Hosea said the ways of the Lord are right (Hosea 14:9).
So, the Righteous must level his ways to the righteous ways of the Lord (Isaiah 26:7). Then, God would lead you through Unknown ways and unfamiliar Paths in 2021. Just trust and Obey.
Christ has declared to his disciples at the end of his life and mission that ‘He is the Way the Truth and the Life’. Our God journeys with us in every odd and bad scenario like poverty, sickness, and loneliness, unknown fear. Jesus journeyed in the same boat with the disciples during storm, whirlwind and high tides, and worst situations, in the same way, he accompanied during the Pandemic and He continues with all of us as Emmanuel.
Conclusion:
Let us strengthen our foundation strong in Christ and His word (Matthew 7:24-27). Our foundation can be strengthened through a personal relationship with Christ on daily basis, must be guarded by the Holy Spirit, let every walk of our lives be prompted by the Holy Spirit. Spending time with God in prayer makes a person strong. No one is too busy not to pray. Daily discipline to pray, read the word, and apply it in your life.
Today, decide to do one thing before you retire to your bed. Let the day end with a family Altar. Have at least a short service with your family members. I am sure you were busy the whole day in your business but spending a few minutes with your son, daughter and parents will build your home for eternity. Never go to bed with your TV NEWS or YouTube or WhatsApp. You are going to be Captivated by them all and disturbed throughout the night without proper rest, peace, and sleep. Never go to bed with an unforgiving spirit or spirit of fret and jealousy on others. If you do these things on daily basis and the given day, I am sure that the Unknown ways and unfamiliar Paths in your life would turn into blessed and successful ways. Never give up. Always go after Jesus. He holds your future. Be deaf to all other voices except the voice of God, which says “come up here, I will show what must take place after this” (Revelation 4:1).
Story of the Deaf Frog: There was a competition among the frogs to claim a High tower in the city to see the wonders of the city. Many started the race, few continued for a while. Many voices discouraged you can’t. So, One by one left the race. But finally, one frog completed the race and received the award, the reason was it was a deaf frog. If you are deaf to the voice of Satan, the voice of the enemies you will achieve the goals and dreams with the help of the Messiah.
