Until the Time that She Travails Micah 5:3

Micah the prophet told the people of Israel they should “gather in troops” and that “the judge of Israel” would be smitten “with a rod upon the cheek”. He also told them of the Messiah's birthplace, “Bethlehem” who though it was “little among the thousands of Judah” would be the place that He “that is to be ruler in Israel” would come. In chapter five and verse three of his prophesy, Micah shares about Israel will be given up “until the time that she which travails has brought forth”. We read:

Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travails has brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

The verse begins, “Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travails has brought forth:” Micah began this verse with the word, “Therefore”, and as we have learned, whenever we see a “therefore” in the Bible, it is a conclusion word and we should look at what was stated just before it. In this case, because the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem and be the “ruler in Israel” Micah wrote, “will he give them up” which refers to the LORD “setting, putting, making and inflicting” the people of Israel over to other nations. They were to be oppressed by these Gentiles “until the time” or “occurrence or occasion” “that she which travails” which means “bears, brings forth, begets and genders” “has brought forth” or which again mean “bears, brings forth, begets and genders”. The phrase in Hebrew is “Nathan 'eth yalad yalad”, and as we notice word “yalad” used twice in a row, we recognize the importance of this special event.

The verse continues, “then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.” After the birth of this special one who ends the “giving up” of Israel to other nations, “then the remnant” which refers to “remainder, excess, rest and other part” “of his brethren” or “relatives and kin” “shall return” which means “turn and go back” “unto the children of Israel” or “the people of the nation of Israel”. In other words, when the timing of the birth of the Messiah is realized, people will be returning to Israel.

When the Messiah was born, He was to deliver Israel. However as we learned in the first verse of this chapter, the Messiah was smitten with a rod on the cheek or “cut off”. Jesus came in His first advent only to be “cut off” by those who were in the world, and though their Messiah was among them, the people of Israel did not recognize Him as such. Therefore the LORD God gave “them up” to other nations or Gentiles until the time when their travail shall be so great, they will call upon the LORD once again. A remnant shall return to Israel until the time of the Gentiles has ended, and then the LORD shall gather the people of Israel to Himself once again. When we take the time to meditate upon these things, we can see these events happening before our very eyes. Jesus was “cut off”, and Israel was dispersed to other nations. Today Jewish people are returning to Israel, and this remnant is being regathered. For those who watch closely, the time for the Messiah's return in near. May all who read these words not only hear these sayings but also realize that they are indeed true and soon to be fulfilled.

Next time Micah shares about one who will “stand and feed in the strength of the Lord”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.