Micah 4:11-13 - Supremacy of His plans

Scripture:

Micah 4:11-13
11 "And now many nations have been assembled against you
Who say, 'Let her be polluted,
And let our eyes gloat over Zion.'
12 "But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord,
And they do not understand His purpose;
For He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 "Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion,
For your horn I will make iron
And your hoofs I will make bronze,
That you may pulverize many peoples,
That you may devote to the Lord their unjust gain
And their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.
NASU


Thoughts:

Micah prophesies of an incredible military victory that Israel will experience in the future.  Surrounded by many enemy nations, rather than experiencing the doom that would seem inevitable, they emerge overwhelmingly victorious.  Though this may yet be future, it is stunningly similar to the victory that occurred in 1948 as Transjordan (now Jordan), Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria attacked Israel on every front, and yet amazingly lost the war.

In any case, a beautiful point is made.  Even when the enemies of God's people come against them, the Lord may be at work in a completely different way.  These enemies came intending to crush Israel (verse 11), but the Lord intended it to destroy their armies (verse 12).

How often this happens.  People march off for conquest in their pride, but find defeat.  And why?  "They do not know" or sometimes heed, "the thoughts of the Lord, And they do not understand His purpose." (verse 12).


Prayer:

Lord, let me not live as those who do not know Your ways.  May I not march off in my plans and intentions, fueled by pride and selfish intent.  I want even the most seemingly insignificant actions of my life to be according to Your will.  I submit to You, today.

And I thank You that You protect me from my enemies, as well.  Though I am rarely in any mortal danger, in other ways people may try to harm my reputation or otherwise, materially.  I thank You that You are my strong tower.  You are able to deliver me from their threats, working sometimes even in my losses for Your greater purposes.

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.