“Now many nations have gathered against you.
‘Let her be desecrated,’ they say.
‘Let us see the destruction of Jerusalem.’But they do not know the Lord’s thoughts
Or understand His plan.
These nations don’t know
That He is gathering them together
To be beaten and trampled
Like sheaves of grain on a threshing floor.‘Rise up and crush the nations, O Jerusalem!’
Says the Lord.
‘For I will give you iron horns and bronze hooves,
So you can trample many nations to pieces.
You will present their stolen riches to the Lord,
Their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.’” —Micah 4:11-13 NLT
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“And now many nations have been assembled against you who say, ‘Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gloat over Zion.’” —Micah 4:11 NASB
“‘If a man divorces a woman and she goes and marries someone else, he will not take her back again, for that would surely corrupt the land.
But you have prostituted yourselves with many lovers, so why are you trying to come back to Me?’ Says the Lord.
‘Look at the shrines on every hilltop. Is there any place you have not been defiled by your adultery with other gods? You sit like a prostitute beside the road waiting for a customer. You sit alone like a nomad in the desert. You have polluted the land with your prostitution and your wickedness.’” —Jeremiah 3:1-2 NLT
“Israel failed to destroy the nations in the land, as the Lord had commanded them. Instead, they mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs. They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall.
They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters by sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan, they polluted the land with murder. They defiled themselves by their evil deeds, and their love of idols was adultery in the Lord’s sight.” —Psalm 106:34-39 NLT
“But they do not know the Lord’s thoughts or understand His plan. These nations don’t know that He is gathering them together to be beaten and trampled like sheaves of gran on a threshing floor.” —Micah 4:12 NLT
“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” —Proverbs 19:21 NLT
“‘Rise up and crush the nations, O Jerusalem!’ Says the Lord. ‘For I will give you iron horns and bronze hooves, so you can trample many nations to pieces. You will present their stolen riches to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.’” —Micah 4:13 NLT
“Upon this rock I will build My church and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” —Matthew 16:18 NLT
when you have a
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke for asking.” —James 1:5 NLT
what
Discussion Questions
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where something wasn’t what it seemed to be? Describe the situation. Were things better or worse than they appeared to be?
Reality not matching our expectations can be common in many areas of our lives, and especially our faith. How has reality not matched your expectations when it comes to your faith? How has following Jesus not been what you thought it would be? How’s it been better? How may it have been worse?
In Micah 4:11-13, we witness a scene where the surrounding nations have gathered together against Israel to defeat them. However what the nations don’t know, is that they’ve actually been gathered by God for their own destruction. Things weren’t what they seemed. What looked like Israel’s defeat, would ultimately be the defeat of their enemies. Have you ever experienced something similar in life? In your faith? Describe that time.
Check out 2 Kings 6:8-17. Here’s another situation where things aren’t what they seem. Think about what is happening in this passage. What role do you more often find yourself in? The young man panicking at the sight of the enemies? Or the seasoned prophet who knew there was more going on than what met the eye?
When we have a problem, God has a plan. Do you believe this? How have you experienced this in your own life?
How can we come to know God’s plan?
What looks like destruction can lead to salvation. Do you believe this? How have you expereinced this in your own life?