Day Eight: Unexpected

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

    though you are small among the clans of Judah,

out of you will come for me

    one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

    from ancient times.”

Therefore Israel will be abandoned

    until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,

and the rest of his brothers return

    to join the Israelites.

He will stand and shepherd his flock

    in the strength of the Lord,

    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

And they will live securely, for then his greatness

    will reach to the ends of the earth.

And he will be our peace

    when the Assyrians invade our land

    and march through our fortresses.

We will raise against them seven shepherds,

    even eight commanders,

who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword,

    the land of Nimrod with drawn sword.

He will deliver us from the Assyrians

    when they invade our land

    and march across our borders.

(Micah 5:2–6)

Devotional

The promise of Micah is that God will be faithful and appear in surprising ways. Look for God's presence where we least expect it as we prepare for Christmas.