From Everlasting

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,  
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, 
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me 
The One to be Ruler in Israel, 
Whose goings forth are from of old,  
From everlasting.  

Micah 5:2 

Christ is eternal. He became a member of humanity at a certain point in human history, however, He existed as the essential, eternal Son of God well before His incarnation. Our text touches on this subject. Micah, the prophet, addresses Bethlehem, the city of Judah where Christ would be born. Micah declares that in spite of Bethlehem’s smallness in relation to the other, more impressive places in Judah, out of her would come the long-awaited Messiah, the King of Israel. This is the prophecy that points directly to Christ, His incarnation, and His birthplace. Micah goes on to add, ‘Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.’ Micah understood that the eternal God was going to appear in due course of time. He was certainly not the only prophet who understood the incarnation. Isaiah had said, ‘Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.’ To that he added, ‘For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ From these passages, and others, we understand that Christ, the eternal God, has come in the flesh. It is most important for us to be clear about His eternity. We are consistently making much of Christ because He is the utterly unique individual Who, being God, has become truly human to accomplish redemption. Because we understand this we make much of Him Who is from everlasting.  

Our Great and Gracious God, 
we rejoice in Your Eternal Son. 
We praise You that in due course of time, 
You have sent Him forth for us. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning