Micah 7:14-15
14 Shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your inheritance,
which lives by itself in a forest,
in fertile pasture-lands.
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead
as in days long ago.
15 ‘As in the days when you came out of Egypt,
I will show them my wonders.’
In this final chapter, we find ourselves returning to themes that we’ve heard before throughout this book. Yesterday, it was the nations being drawn to worship God. Today, it’s the picture of Israel as sheep and God as their shepherd. The peace and security which were represented as walls in v11 are now likened to safe, fertile pastures, where sheep can live without fear of hunger or predators.
The reference to Egypt reminds us again of the Exodus, when God rescued his people from slavery and brought them to a land of their own which was - for a while at least - their safe haven. Bashan and Gilead are places they passed through on the way, and where God gave them victory over their enemies. By prompting them to remember this past rescue, the Lord is reminding his people that the future he is promising them through Micah really is possible. Given their current, perilous situation, it might seem too good to be true. But the idea of escaping from slavery to Pharaoh probably seemed pretty unlikely at the time. Yet God made it happen. Looking back to his past faithfulness will enable them to look forward to the promised future with confidence. It’s the same for us. An eternity with our Heavenly Father might seem too good to be true. But we look back to the cross, where God showed us his wonders as he defeated sin, death and the devil, and so are enabled to keep looking forward with confidence. Let’s praise him for that today.
