The People Don’t Want to Hear His Message
The prophet Micah (5) is a contemporary of Isaiah. Micah’s ministry overlaps and follows Hosea’s. We know little else about Micah from the Bible except that he comes from Moresheth, but Scripture doesn’t reveal where it is.
Micah prophesies to the nations of Israel and Judah during the reigns of several kings: Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah.
He delivers strong words from God. This should convict the people, but it doesn’t. Instead, they take offense. The other prophets—false prophets—tell Micah to stop talking, as if his silence will keep God’s plans from happening.
Micah responds with sarcasm, saying that if a prophet proclaimed plenty of wine and beer for all, the people would flock to him. Rather than accept the truth, the people prefer to anesthetize themselves from it.
Telling the people what they want to hear—as opposed to what is true—is making a false prophecy.
When the prophets don’t say what the people want to hear, the people turn against them. This is a consumeristic mindset, embracing what’s pleasant, even if it’s wrong.
It happened to Micah. It happened to Jesus. And it still happens today.
How willing are we to share God’s truth with others?
How do we react when we face opposition?
[Read about Micah in Micah 1:1–2 and Micah 2:6. Discover more in Jeremiah 26:18.]
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Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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