Micah 4:11-13

Nations rise and nations fall. That is the uncivilized nature of civilization. At the time Micah was preaching, many nations surrounded Israel. Israel was located at the crossroads between the great powers of Northern Africa, the Middle East and Southern Europe. They were in the perfect location to spread the good news that their God was a righteous God. All they had to do was remain neutral between all the many powerful nations around them. Because they were not content as messengers for God, but wanted to be militarily mighty, they painted a bullseye on their nation.

Once the many nations around them saw them as a threat, peace was not an option. However, because they were not being obedient to God, victory was not an option either. The many nations saw Israel as ripe fruit ready for picking. Down through the centuries, one powerful empire after another defiled Israel and its capital Jerusalem. The many nations believed this proved that Israel’s God was weak and powerless. It did not prove that at all; it did illustrate that a loving God does not help his children avoid responsibility for their own choices. God had a plan, but his plan required Israel’s obedience. God could have, and would have kept Israel safe if they had remained in right relationship with him. God would have been Israel’s defense, and the many nations, instead of breaking Israel, would have broken themselves against God in His defense of Israel.

As a neutral power, aligned only with God, they would have grown wealthy from the many empires around them. They would have reaped a harvest from their neighbor’s labor and ill-gotten gains of war. Because of their devotion to God, they would have used the wealth of their enemies to do God’s righteous work. Israel would have become the hope of the world. Citizenship in God’s kingdom is no longer by birth, but rather by rebirth. However, God’s plan is unchanged; He chose us to spread the gospel and do righteous works.