In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He [Jesus Christ -Yeshua] was in the beginning with God.

MICAH

The Book of Micah is the sixth of the twelve books of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament. The name Micah comes from the Hebrew word Michayahu meaning, “who is like God”. Micah was from Judah and ministered during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. Combined, they ruled Judah from c. 740-687 BC. The prophecies of Obadiah, Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah and Micah overlapped in an era from c. 845-670 BC with Micah c. 738-698 BC.

Micah proclaimed God’s judgment on the cities of Samaria, the capital of Israel, and Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. It was during a time in which the people acted unjustly and wickedly against each other. They had a form of ritual worship, but their hearts were far from God. False prophets caused the people to stray while claiming that the Lord was with them in their endeavors. God challenged them to be like Him; they were to do justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly before Him. However, the people rejected Micah’s message and, consequently, God brought judgment on Judah and Israel. As prophesied by Micah, Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC while Judah was taken captive by the Babylonians beginning in 605 BC.

Micah proclaimed that God would have mercy and not retain His anger forever because He delights in mercy. Micah prophesied two restorations of Israel and two advents of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. The release of the Babylonian captives in 538 BC, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, and the rejection of Christ have all been fulfilled. Future prophecies of Israel’s deliverance from the Assyrian, the Antichrist, will occur at the second advent of Christ at the end of the tribulation. Christ will bring eternal restoration and salvation to Israel. Today’s events in Israel are leading up to Christ’s second coming.

Micah 1-3: Judgments on Judah and Israel; condemnation by God; promise of restoration

Micah 4-5: Return of captives; birth and rejection of the Messiah; future deliverance from the Assyrian

Micah 6-7: God pleads His case; promise of Israel’s final and eternal salvation