MICAH 4:11-13: “Many nations have now assembled against you; they say, “Let her be defiled, and let us feast our eyes on Zion.” But they do not know the Lord’s intentions or understand his plan, that he has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor. Rise and thresh, Daughter Zion, for I will make your horns iron and your hooves bronze so you can crush many peoples. Then you will set apart their plunder for the Lord, their wealth for the Lord of the whole earth.” CSB

OBSERVATION: Have you ever felt like everything in life is stacked against you? You love and trust the Lord but the circumstances in your life seem to be mounting against you. And, in the midst of all this you wonder – “What is the Lord doing?”

God is preparing you for victory!

Micah wrote of the coming judgment of Judah for their sins against Yahweh. They would be taken captive by the nation of Babylon and the Temple would be destroyed. Yet, in his writings, as in many prophetic writings, he goes from the present condition to the future reality at the end of the ages. Verses 11-13 are such a transition.

In these verses we are faced with the final battle of battles – the Battle of Armageddon. It is a time when all the nations will rise against Israel. Israel will not be able to trust in any of their allies. The only one who will be able to deliver them is Messiah. In their weakness the nations feel they have the victory. Yet, it is in their weakness that they find their strength!

God is preparing them for victory!

• “But they do not know the Lord’s intentions or understand his plan, that he has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor. Rise and thresh, Daughter Zion, for I will make your horns iron and your hooves bronze so you can crush many peoples.”

From the bleakest of circumstances, when all seems to be lost, God’s intentions for them is victory. And, His intentions for us are the same! Paul echoes this truth in his second letter to the Corinthians.

• “We don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction that took place in Asia. We were completely overwhelmed — beyond our strength — so that we even despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a terrible death, and he will deliver us. We have put our hope in him that he will deliver us again while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 CSB

There are three important principles that we can glean from this account in Corinthians and the verses from Micah.

1. The enemy has designs for our destruction, but God has promised us the victory!

2. The Lord allows us to come to the place of weakness so that we will not hope in ourselves but in Him alone.

3. The turning point toward victory is not only our faith but the support and prayers of those in the church that He has placed in our lives. We are not alone!

This was not wishful thinking on the part of Paul. This was something that he lived out on a daily basis. It was proven out in his life.

• “Concerning this (Paul’s thorn in the flesh), I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 CSB

When Israel is surrounded by the nations at the end time, when there looks like there is no hope – God is preparing them for victory! When Paul was persecuted in every city that he traveled to, when he despaired of life itself – God was preparing him for victory! And, when all the circumstances in my life seem to be going in the wrong direction, I know…

God is preparing me for victory!

• “He has delivered us from such a terrible death, and he will deliver us. We have put our hope in him that he will deliver us again while you join in helping us by your prayers.” II Corinthians 1:10 CSB

Lord, this morning, I thank you for all those who daily surround me with their prayers as I walk through the trials of my life. May I take blessed assurance that you are preparing me for victory. And, in this blessed assurance, may I stand in the gap for all those you have placed in my life, praying for their strength, and for Your grace to be poured out upon them in abundance!

God – lead us into Your victory!

In Jesus Name!