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God in the Working World
Micah
There are moments in our lives that validate our transition into different stages of our lives. You know that moment you realize that despite your best efforts you have in fact become your parents (If you haven’t had that moment yet trust me it’s coming). I had a moment where I realized I had become “That” parent. The one that is overreacting in his response to the situation. I don’t remember which of my children did something or what they did but what I do remember is that I was overly harsh on them and when my wife called me on it. My explanation went something like this “Today its lying to us, tomorrow it’s cheating on a test, then petty crime and before you know it there in jail for stealing a car”. Yes! I said that… It’s not only TV dad’s that go there, it’s real life ones who worry about the outcome of their kids. Despite my overreaction the reason for confronting my children when they do something wrong is still the same. I confront them because I want them to achieve something greater than the results of where their current actions will take them.
There is a similar theme in all the minor prophets where God says to the people of Israel it is time to correct some actions that do not line up with their calling as God’s covenant people. In Micah he is confronting Israel’s leaders for their treatment of the people. Corrupt prophets would promise God’s protection to anyone who could pay for it, leaders would take from the poor and would take advantage of them assisted by a justice system that favored the wealthy. God’s way of dealing with this was to send in oppressive nations to bring 1 destruction to the cities. God’s response seems harsh, but God does not end the story there. There is a purpose behind his actions. God must confront evil among His people before they can bring the hope to the nations as promised in Genesis. God’s reason for allowing the destruction of Israel was to ultimately bring hope to all nations. Israel needed to be faithful to God before it could be the light to the world, He intended them to be. The closing verses of the book of Micah give us a reminder of God’s mercy in dealing with his people:
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because He delights in steadfast love. 19 He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. 20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
Micah 7:18-20[/perfectpullquote]
There are three things to focus on in this passage, 1)He does not retain his anger forever, 2) God does not hold a grudge towards us because we fail Him, 3) He shows us compassion and He is faithful to the promise He made to Abraham that all nations will be blessed through him.
Similar to the correction of a parent, the purpose of God’s judgement is not to destroy, but to confront with the purpose of growth and change. His ultimate goal is for people to come and know him and enjoy the blessing of a life filled with His presence. God does not delight in destruction, He “delights in steadfast love”. (Micah 7:18) In our lives there will be times where God will allow us to reap the consequences of our sin, but God will not leave us there hopeless. As we turn to Him, he provides us with hope that greater things are yet to come.
– Adam Deering
1 The Bible Project: Micah https://bibleproject.com/explore/micah/
