Christ Jesus’s entry into human history was prophesied many times in the Old Testament. The Old Testament writings ended some 450 years before Jesus was born. So hundreds of years before Jesus was born the Old Testament Prophets wrote about His birth, life, death, resurrection and His second coming. There are some 300 plus prophecies about Jesus recorded in the Old Testament. We will be highlighting some of these in the coming weeks starting with Bethlehem:-
Jesus Christ would be born in Bethlehem
The prophet Micah recorded some 700 years before Christ’s birth where the actual birth would take place.
Micah chapter 5 verse 2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be the ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old from ancient times.”
Micah deliberately named the town Bethlehem Ephrathah to distinguish it as the town found in Judea; because there was another town in Northern Israel also named Bethlehem. Bethlehem Ephrathah was also the place where King David was anointed by Samuel. In the New Testament the book of Matthew tells us this is indeed what happened.
Matthew chapter 2 verse 1; After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of king Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.
The book Luke also confirms it:-
Luke chapter 2 verses 4 to 7; So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them at the Inn.
So, 700 years before the event Micah wrote about it makes you think doesn’t it!