As we read the exploits of the bullies who “covet, grab, take and see people as only for what they can get out of them” in Micah’s day of prophecy, we realize that the same evil is happening in our world.  Evil is not creative.  The same ancient tricks of his trade of spreading lies, grabbing souls and turning hearts for himself, causing wars through miscommunications that stem from pride and arrogance and wanting it all for himself still exist. 

We think of whole countries being bullied by a larger country…just because they can.  We think of the internal struggles of the smaller country of Haiti who are rebelling against poverty, looting, taking and grabbing all they can from each other while terrorizing anyone who gets in their way.  When will God have enough of it in our world, in this time and place?  We wonder.  We pray often for resolution and peace for Haiti.  We have been there many times in our past.  We have good friends who work hard in churches and schools to follow God in His ways.  Our hearts are broken for the misery they are going through just to stay alive.  We also think and pray of the struggles of the Ukrainian people who are bullied by Russia.  Our own country is full of bullies, dressed as executives, who use people as step stools for advancement in any organization or group.  This is the playground of life where we all live!

What do we do? It depends on who we are with God.  We must stay close to and focused on the One who wins in the end.  Who is the One? Jesus—Savior and Lord of all who believe!

“…God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:9-11

Micah 2, The Message

God Has Had Enough

^1-5 Doom to those who plot evil,
    who go to bed dreaming up crimes!
As soon as it’s morning,
    they’re off, full of energy, doing what they’ve planned.
They covet fields and grab them,
    find homes and take them.
They bully the neighbor and his family,
    see people only for what they can get out of them.

God has had enough. He says,
    “I have some plans of my own:
Disaster because of this interbreeding evil!
    Your necks are on the line.
You’re not walking away from this.
    It’s doomsday for you.
Mocking ballads will be sung of you,
    and you yourselves will sing the blues:
‘Our lives are ruined,
    our homes and lands auctioned off.
They take everything, leave us nothing!
    All is sold to the highest bidder.’”
And there’ll be no one to stand up for you,
    no one to speak for you before God and his jury.

* * *

^6-7 “Don’t preach,” say the preachers.
    “Don’t preach such stuff.
Nothing bad will happen to us.
    Talk like this to the family of Jacob?
Does God lose his temper?
    Is this the way he acts?
Isn’t he on the side of good people?
    Doesn’t he help those who help themselves?”

* * *

^8-11 “What do you mean, ‘good people’!
    You’re the enemy of my people!
You rob unsuspecting people
    out for an evening stroll.
You take their coats off their backs
    like soldiers who plunder the defenseless.
You drive the women of my people
    out of their ample homes.
You make victims of the children
    and leave them vulnerable to violence and vice.
Get out of here, the lot of you.
    You can’t take it easy here!

You’ve polluted this place,
    and now you’re polluted—ruined!
If someone showed up with a good smile and glib tongue
    and told lies from morning to night—
‘I’ll preach sermons that will tell you
    how you can get anything you want from God:
More money, the best wines . . . you name it’—
    you’d hire him on the spot as your preacher!

* * *

^12-13 “I’m calling a meeting, Jacob.
    I want everyone back—all the survivors of Israel.
I’ll get them together in one place—
    like sheep in a fold, like cattle in a corral—
    a milling throng of homebound people!
Then I, God, will burst all confinements
    and lead them out into the open.
They’ll follow their King.
    I will be out in front leading them.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”  Matthew 24:6-13

We must turn our focused eyes of faith on Jesus no matter what is happening around us.  Stand firm, calling on the Name of Jesus, to the very end and we will be saved. 

Paul tells followers of Jesus how to live in the meantime…

“Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing,so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.”  Philippians 2:12-18

Though the nation of Israel might rebel against God, a faithful remnant would always trust Him and seek to do His will, and God would work because of the faith of this group of faithful believers. (This is true of the professing church today.) The hope of the nation lies with the remnant.

Today, feeling like the “remnant” at times, we need to deal daily with our own sins of covetousness, selfishness, and willingness to believe religious or society’s lies. Sift through what the world says and believe what Jesus says.  “You have heard it said, but I say unto you…” throughout Jesus words of clarification about what God wants is always right and true.  See Matthew 5-7 for help in solidifying our relationship with the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Read John for how to live a life of Love.  Then speak the Truth in this Love of God in us.

This is my prayer, In Jesus Name, For His Glory, Amen