Micah is a lesser-known but prominent prophet in the bible whose influence cannot be ignored. Micah, also referred to as Micah the Morashtite was not only a prophet but also the author of the book of Micah. Prophet Micah was born in a small town called Moresheth-Gath, a small town situated in the southwest of Judah.
The town was also some 25 kilometers away from Jerusalem. The town was in the outcasts of the centers and Micah grew up in a farming household before becoming a prophet. Keep reading to find out more about him.
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What was prophet Micah best known for?
One of the many reasons Micah stands out despite being considered one of the twelve minor prophets was because he foretold three kings, all of which came to pass. The three kings in question include King Hezekiah of Judah, King Ahaz, and King Jotham. Jotham son of Uzziah ascended to the Judean throne in 742 BC and ruled for seven years.
Jotham was succeeded Ahaz, his son, whose reign lasted between 735 BC and 715 BC – which was thirteen years much longer than his father. Ahaz was succeeded by his son Ahaz who ruled from 715 BC to 696 BC. Micah is also known for foretelling the destruction of Samaria and Jerusalem; both of which came to pass.
The people of Samaria were not only deep into idol worship but were also notorious for their open prostitution. Jerusalem, on the other hand, was known for its dishonest business dealings and corruption that led to its ill-gotten prosperity. Both cities failed to repent as Micah asked them thus God’s wrath.
Prophet Micah also spoke against idolatry that was rampant during his time; a brave feat that also bought him a lot of enemies. He also talked about the future restoration of the Judean state which would precede the distraction of Jerusalem. Micah was active between 737 BC and 696 BC. That’s also about the time when he put his book together.
Last but not least, Micah is also credited with prophesizing the coming of the Messiah seven centuries before it came to pass.
How did prophet Micah die?
As I mentioned earlier, Micah made a lot of enemies by calling out the prominent vices as they were. Unfortunately, some of the most influential individuals profited from vices such as corruption and prostitution. They tried to bully Micah with imprisonment and public ridicule in the hope that he’ll stop.
When all their efforts proved futile, Micah’s enemies decided that the best way to deal with him was to kill him. Men, acting on King Jotham’s orders, were hired to kill him. They took the prophet to a cliff and pushed him over. On the day Micah died, his name ascended into the rarefied air of martyrdom.
A few good Samaritans collected Micah’s body, washed it, and prepared it for burial. He was later buried in a stone coffin.
Why were Micah’s prophecies so important?
When Micah came into the picture, society had generally forgotten about the values of God and was descending into chaos. By standing firm against powerful men, Micah reminded Israel of what was important – which was living to please God if they were to gain His favor.
Micah is also credited with giving the most vivid account of the birth of Jesus. He not only referred to him as the prince of peace but also predicted his birthplace to be Jerusalem. Jesus was not only born in Bethlehem seven hundred years later but he preached peace, uniting people from different social classes through his teachings.
Just like Micah, Jesus Christ preached against corruption and made some powerful enemies who later planned for his crucifixion. The future kingdom, which Micah described as consisting of many nations living in peace, harmony, and security during Jesus’ time also came to pass.
Micah also prophesized throngs of people coming to Jerusalem to worship the son of God – another one of his many prophecies that came to happen. As expected, Micah’s prophesies inspired a mixture of hope and fear. His work led so many to live lives that were pleasing in God’s eyes.
Not everyone changed their ways, especially the powerful people who had the final say. The latter is what resulted in their eventual downfall. Through Micah (especially during the court trial), God reminded them that He still cared for them despite being wayward.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to make the people change their ways. Today, we can learn a lot from the life of prophet Micah. For instance, we shouldn’t be afraid to stand for what they believe in just because they face opposition.
What were the other twelve minor prophets besides Micah?
As earlier mentioned, Micah was one of the twelve minor prophets in the bible. The other minor prophets include Hosea, Amos, Joel, Jonah, Malachi, Haggai, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Zechariah, Nahum, and Isaiah. Different versions of the bible refer to these minor prophets differently. For instance, some term them as the Twelve Prophets, or just The Twelve instead of Minor Prophets.
