Though You Are Small

THOUGH YOU ARE SMALL – MICAH 5:2

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[b] 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.”

As I am praying how I can illustrate the aforementioned text, I came across this story from one of the contributor of sermoncentral. Here is the story.

In Scotland many years ago, the pastor of a small village church was visited by one of his deacons before service one Sunday morning. As the pastor brought out some coffee for them to share, her could tell by the deacon’s demeanor that something was weighing heavily upon him. Finally the deacon spoke:

"I came early to meet you as there is something that me and the other deacons have been talking about that we want you to consider- There must be something wrong with your preaching and ministry; there has been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he is only a boy."

What a way to start a Sunday morning!

The minister went into the pulpit that day with a grieved and heavy heart. After service he wished to be alone and lingered in the church after everyone else left so he could pray. He cried out to God asking why his efforts seem to be in vain despite him doing his best for God, and living a holy life before him.

After a while of pouring his heart out to God at the altar, he became conscious that he was not alone. He looked up and saw that it was the boy, Robert, that had become a Christian in the last year.

The pastor asked, "Well, Robert, what is it?"

Robert replied, "Do you think if I were willing to work hard for an education I could ever become a preacher? A preacher? —Perhaps a missionary?"

There was a long pause and tears filled the eyes of the old minister. At length he said, "This heals the ache in my heart, Robert. I see the divine hand now. Yes, I think you will become a preacher."

That boy was Robert Moffat.

The boy that the deacons wrote off as an insignificant fruit of the old pastor’s labor became a name known in the courts of heaven.

In fact, the measure of the old minister's reward will be found in the gathered fruit of the labors of Robert Moffat. If that name is not familiar to you Robert became the great African missionary who translated the entire bible into the local language, so the native people would read God’s word for themselves.

Now, let us go back to our topic today, The insignifant town of Bethlehem Ephrathah.

Etymology:

Bethlehem: House of Bread

Beth – House

Lehem – Bread

Related Verses from the bible:

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]” Matthew 4:4

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

Ephrathah – Fruitful

Geneology from Jacob to Ephrath

Jacob, Judah and Tamar, Perez, Hezron, Caleb and Ephrath, Hur the father of Bethlehem

There are many small to greatness stories written in the history of insignificant Bethlehem

1. Rachel is not only the wife of Jacob, but she is the mother of famous Joseph the dreamer. Her life is a testimony that out of an obscure and unknown girl of a deceitful father Laban, God can raise governor and one of the greatest heroes of faith in the life of Joseph

2. Ruth is a Moabite woman, an outsider of the chosen people of Israel. We understand that Naomi, her mother in law had to undergoes several famines in her life so that God can reach out to Ruth, brought her to Bethlehem to meet her second husband Boaz. She turned out to became David’s great grandmother and the only non-Jewish writer of the Bible, the book of Ruth.

3. David - When Prophet Samuel came to anoint the next king of Israel. David was not even notified or considered by his father Jesse. Jesse thought that David was too young for the job. But later, David proved himself by killing Goliath the giant and later came to be known as the greatest king of Israel.

4. Jesus was born in the stable of Bethlehem. He was laid in the manger because there is no room in the inn. But as the Christmas is past approaching, we understand the Jesus is the Son of God. The Messiah Savior of the World.