God sent the prophet Micah to confront the Israelites who were taking their neighbors' houses and land. Whether they were poor or rich, God wanted each Israelite family to have a place to live and enjoy His blessings in the nation of Israel. But these Israelites were seeking to steal their neighbor's inheritance. They coveted what He had chosen to give to others. Thus, God proclaimed the judgment found in Micah 2:5. Since they wanted to cast their neighbors out of their homes and property, He would do the same to them, taking their land and possession. They would no longer have anyone to cast lots for their land.
Are we any different? Jesus commanded us to "Do unto others what you would have them do to you" (Luke 6:31). Would we want someone to covet and steal the home and possessions the Lord gave us? Yet, how often have we failed to protect our neighbor's possessions and even desire to have what is not rightly ours. We are greedy for more possessions, and we do not want to help our neighbors keep theirs. Like the Israelites in our text, we deserve to have everything taken from us and to be thrown out of the land God gave us, yet God wanted to save and redeem us.
What does all this have to do with Christmas Eve? Think about the birth of our Savior. When the time came for Mary to bear her child, there was no room in the inn. The best home in Bethlehem should have been opened to the King of kings, but instead He was laid in a manger. But that is the reason Jesus came. He set aside His home in heaven and came to make our lot secure (Psalm 16:5-6). He came to live a life free of coveting. He took care of His neighbor to our credit. He took our punishment by being cast out of the land of the living (Isaiah 53:8) and suffered the agony and shame of the cross. Yet, He rose from the grave and ascended into heaven, promising to come again (John 14:3). He secured our lot. He secured our place in His heavenly Kingdom (2 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Peter 1:3-4; Hebrews 11:16). He will come as He promised for you and me, destroying death and all evil and giving to us a new land-a new heaven and earth where we will be with Him forever.
THE PRAYER: Gracious Lord, we have broken faith with You and others, and yet You sought us out to forgive and redeem us. Help us to rest secure in Your grace and love. Amen.
Written by Pastor Jason Krause
Cross of Christ Lutheran Church
Bountiful, Utah
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