(The Lord) gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31.

The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:25-26 NKJV.

Let Your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your unfailing love. Psalm 31:16.

Our chapter, Micah 5, carries the beautiful promise…“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 old, from ancient times.” v. 2. Before there was time, Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, purposed those words. We see through a glass darkly while events in our broken world unfold. 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. v. 3-4. And this promise prophesied by Micah for what would be hope for them, can be our promise of hope as we live in troubled times today…And He will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. v. 5. The wrath of God is for us, His children; and is against everything in us that is not of God’s love for us. “In that day,” declares the Lord, “I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots. I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds. I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells. I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands. I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles when I demolish your cities. I will take vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that have not obeyed me.” v. 10-15. The wrath of God is not like the wrath of men. Men in their wrath wage violence and war against one another. God will end all wars. Men in their ignorance then and now serve idols they make and in doing so cannot know Creator God. When we do those things we miss completely God’s love for us. When we turn away from God…we miss completely God’s love for us. And when finally in great need, when this world can no longer provide any semblance of understanding, and in desperation we turn to God…we turn a corner. We see a path where there is light and hope and truth…and Creator God is right there! 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. Then…now…in the future brought to complete fulfillment…God’s love stands faithful and true. He is our rest and hope in a difficult and confusing world of mankind. Keep your eyes on Him as you live in these difficult days and rejoice that one day we will stand before Him – recognizing that His welcoming love that guided us faithfully then…is guiding us right into His loving embrace now and forever.