But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans 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. Micah 5:2
Dear HBIC Family,
I have long admired the resilience of people. For more than a century, Liberians were subjected to leaders who failed to always work for the greater good of all the people. In the last three or four decades, we have seen our country mired under the leadership of despots and dictators, warlords and career politicians, all skilled at looking out for their own interests above those of the people. Yet, Liberians remain committed to each other, our land, and building a better tomorrow for all the people.
As a Liberian who has spent most of my life outside of my country, I often feel more outsider than insider. Nevertheless, as the fruit of families who both started the country and who have lived on its soil for generations, my privilege also reminds me that I’m very much an insider, too. While non-Liberians are quick to ask me about plans to return to the land of my birth, it is the common question from Liberians that intrigues me the most – so what are we going to do about Mama Liberia??
This is a question that has stirred in my soul since I first left Liberia in 1989. It is a question that I always thought would define my life. It took me several decades to realize that Liberia will belong to Liberians, the people will be its greatest treasure, and that hope can only come from God. It is this lesson that excites me about reaching the center of Micah’s collection of sermons and prophecies. Like my native Liberians, Micah’s people in Judah and Israel were ravaged generationally by terrible leadership, disregard for the greater good of the people, and selfishness about serving God and one another. But even still, God offers hope!
This week we will be continuing our Micah: Walk Humbly with Your God series by turning to its center, chapters 4 and 5. In the middle of the book, the first thing people would read upon opening the scroll (and the most important lesson Micah wanted the people to remember) was this message: hope comes from God alone, and God will restore the people under God’s rule. As you prepare for this week’s services, I would like to invite you to read and meditate on both Micah 4 and 5. As you reflect, I would like to ask you to focus on the following questions:
- Where do you see hope in your world?
- How does the future promised by God give you hope for today?
- What is one promise of God that you are holding onto right now?
- How does Jesus coming into the world give you hope?
- How is God calling you to share his promise of hope to your world?
Like many, for years, I have celebrated Micah’s prophecy about Jesus coming into the world to bring hope for God’s people. However, I find myself appreciating it so much more these days. So far in Micah, we have learned that because of the people’s sin and disobedience for generations, they had lost their unity, were on the way to losing their land, and were dominated by selfishness and greed. Everywhere they looked, the world was not as it should have been and darkness was all too easy to see. Yet…it was there that Micah prophesied about hope to come!
My sisters and brothers, though darkness is easier to see than light, our God promises us hope. Though despair seems to just be getting harder and harder to shake, our God promises hope. Though brokenness in our world, in our community, in our families, and in ourselves remains very easy to feel and know, our God promises hope.
In the midst of the darkness, Jesus comes. In the pits of despair, Jesus comes. In all of our brokenness, Jesus comes. And Jesus coming into the world has always been hope from our God. May this hope nourish you today, empower your spirit, and bless your hearts!
God bless you all.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Hank (Micah 5:2)