Micah the prophet concerned
himself with the “remnant” of people who would return to
Israel during the last days. He said they would be “as a dew
from the LORD” and “as the showers upon the grass” and
would have their influence over many nations of the earth. In chapter
five and verse eight of his prophesy, Micah tells how this “remnant”
shall be among “the Gentiles” where
we read:
And the remnant of
Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a
lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks
of sheep: who, if he go through, both treads down, and tears in
pieces, and none can deliver.
The
verse begins, “And the remnant of Jacob shall be among
the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts
of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep:” Micah
continued his discourse on “the remnant of Jacob”
by noting their place “among the Gentiles”
or “non-Hebrew nations”. He declared they would be “in
the midst” or “middle” of
“many people” or
“nations” “as a lion among the beasts”
or “in the manner in which a lion lives among other cattle,
livestock or animals”. He went on to say they would be “as
a young lion” or “lion cub”
“among the flocks of sheep”
which refers to “small cattle, sheep and goats, and flocks of
them”. The idea is that “the remnant of Israel”
will be as powerful as a lion among other animals when they return to
their land. The surrounding nations will not be able to overcome them
any more than other animals, particularly sheep and goats, could
overcome a lion or it's cub.
The verse goes on to say,
“who, if he go through, both treads down, and tears in pieces,
and none can deliver.” So the
readers of his prophesy would be clear about this powerful influence
of “the remnant”
Micah wrote, “who if he go through”
or “or passes over, crosses, crosses over, marches over, overflows,
or goes over” “both treads down”
which means “tramples” “and tears in pieces”
or “rends or plucks” “and none can deliver”
or “snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder or spoil”.
In other words, when the people of Israel come into full power, no
one will be able to resist or deliver from their strength.
When
we meditate upon these words of Micah, perhaps it will help us to
consider what some think of this time for “the remnant”
of Israel. This is quite possibly the “Great Tribulation”
time of which Jesus and the books of Daniel and Revelation share.
During this time there will be one hundred and forty-four thousand
Jewish believers who will minister the gospel of Jesus Christ, and
the nations who are around them will not be able to resist them or
the power of God who brings judgment upon them. Regardless of the
timing of this “remnant among the Gentiles”
one thing is for certain, it will not be a good time for those
nations who oppose Israel. May we always keep ourselves in alignment
with Jesus Christ and the people of Israel whom the LORD God loves so
dearly and will equip to tread upon all who oppose them.
Next
time Micah writes concerning adversaries and enemies,
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.
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