But you, O Bethlehem Eph’rathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2
Bethlehem was originally called Ephrata, then Ephrata-Bethlehem and finally Bethlehem. King David was born there. It’s an insignificant berg in the middle of the Judean hill country. It had no importance except that it was the town where David was born.
It was foretold in the book of Micah just where the Messiah was to be born. Those who would search for him to do him harm (King Herod) could have narrowed his search to this insignificant little town if only he had read the Scripture and believed it. It was written for all to see.
Penn and Teller are famous for performing simple card and ball and handkerchief tricks even as they tell their audiences how they are doing them, and they still do it in front of knowing and amazed audiences.
God told the world how Jesus would come to earth. He wrote it down. People studied it and still couldn’t believe that Bethelehem would be the place that God the Son would be born.
This Christmas season we need to look at Scripture anew so that we don’t miss glaring truths. Ask God to give us a fresh revelation of his wisdom.