The Power of Prophecy by David Jeremiah

 

The Power of Prophecy  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    Bethlehem meant “house [beth] of bread [lechem].” It was one of two Bethlehems, the second being in the region of Galilee (Joshua 19:15). To avoid confusion, Jesus’ birthplace is referred to as “Bethlehem of Judea” (Matthew 2:1, 5). The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem also confirmed that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judea, not Bethlehem in Galilee, quoting the prophet Micah (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1-6). Jesus was born in the predicted place!

Recommended Reading: Matthew 2: 1 – 6

But why was He born in the “city of bread”? Perhaps Bethlehem was given that name because it was a center for growing grain as illustrated in the book of Ruth where Bethlehem is mentioned six times. The climax of Ruth’s story centers around the grain harvest of Boaz. More prophetically, the One born in the “house of bread” eventually identified Himself as the Bread of Life (John 6:35, 48). Be comforted this Christmas by the prophecy and fulfillment that surrounds the birth of Jesus. God’s promises for you are as certain as His promises were for the birth of Jesus.