Micah’s Wake-Up Call (And Why We Still Need It)

We'd love to hear from you - Click Here to Text Us a Message.

God's message through the prophet Micah cuts through religious performance to reveal what truly matters: a heart that walks closely with Him. This powerful book unveils God's case against empty religion while offering profound hope in His mercy and the coming Messiah.

• Micah was a rural prophet from a farming village who spoke to both kingdoms of Israel around 700 BCE
• He specifically challenged corrupt religious leaders, judges and wealthy elites who exploited the poor
• His message follows a courtroom structure, bringing God's case against the people with three distinct oracles
• Micah uses vivid imagery comparing corrupt leaders to cannibals and contrasting this with peaceful visions of restoration
• Micah 6:8 reveals God's true desire: "act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God"
• The book contains a famous prophecy about the Messiah coming from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
• Micah's name means "Who is like the Lord?" highlighting God's incomparable character
• Jesus perfectly fulfilled Micah's message by embodying justice, mercy and humble obedience
• The prophet reminds us that God takes sin seriously but also offers forgiveness and restoration

Join us next time as we explore the book of Nahum and its powerful message about God's justice in a world full of violence.

Sources:

• Fee, G. D., & Stuart, D. (2002). How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour. Zondervan.
• MacArthur, J. (Ed.). (n.d.). The MacArthur Study Bible, NIV Edition. [Bible]. Thomas Nelson. 
• Nelson, T. (Ed.). (n.d.). The NIV, Open Bible: Complete Reference System. Thomas Nelson. 
• Zondervan. (Ed.). (2016). NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture. Zondervan.

Related Episodes:

- Unveiling Old Testament History: A Virtual Journey Through TIme

- The Prophets: Messengers of God's Word in the Bible - Pt.1

- The Prophets: Messengers of God's Word in the Bible - Pt 2 (Historical Context)

Have questions about what it means to follow Jesus?
Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or exploring what the Bible teaches, we’d love to walk with you. God’s invitation is real, personal, and full of grace.

💬 Reach out to Jacqui at [e-mail]
📖 Talk to a trusted Christian in your life
🏠 Or visit a Bible-believing church near you

You are not alone. God’s Word is alive, and He is still drawing people to Himself today. Don’t hesitate to take the next step.

Thank you for tuning in!
Bible Basics is now streaming on Youtube. Please subscribe now!

Feel free to contact us at [e-mail]. We would love to hear from you!

Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.

Episode Transcript

Jacqui (00:12):
Greetings listeners.
Have you ever wondered what Godis really looking for from you?
Is it about doing enough goodthings, following all the rules,
showing up to church every week?
Well, the prophet Micah cutsthrough all the noise and gives

(00:32):
us one of the clearest answersin the Bible it's not about
appearances, it's about a heartthat walks closely with God,
heart that walks closely withGod.
So if you've ever feltoverwhelmed by performance

(00:54):
pressure or religious activitythat feels empty, Micah is
speaking your language.
We're starting a new journeytoday into the book of Micah, a
short but powerful message ofGod's justice, mercy and hope.
So grab your Bible and let'swalk through it together.
Well, welcome everyone.

(01:15):
I'm your host, Jacqui Adewole,and this is the Bible Basics
Podcast, where weekly, we breakdown the basics of the Bible
into understandable, bite-sizedchunks.
Today, we're opening up thesmall but mighty book of Micah.
Let's set the scene.

(01:36):
Micah lived about 700 yearsbefore Jesus, during a dark time
in Israel's history.
God's people were divided, twokingdoms Israel in the north and
Judah in the south and whileprophets like Isaiah were
speaking from the center ofpower, micah came from a small

(02:00):
farming village called Moresheth, southwest of Jerusalem.
He wasn't a palace insider.
He was one of the everydaypeople, but through him, god's
messages were bold and theydidn't pull any punches.
Micah spoke to both kingdoms,but especially to Judah in the

(02:24):
south and its capital, jerusalem.
He aimed his words at thecorrupt priests, dishonest
judges and wealthy elites whowere leading people away from
God.
These were leaders who lookedreligious on the outside but
were taking from the poor,ignoring justice and living for

(02:48):
themselves.
Micah's name means who is likethe Lord, and the answer is
clear no one.
But that's the tension runningthrough his whole message.
If no one compares to God, whywere his people turning to idols
, corrupt leaders and emptyreligion?

(03:12):
Now let's examine the mainmessages found in this book.
Micah was sent by God to callhis people, especially in Judah,
back to right, living a lifewhere their actions matched
God's heart for justice andmercy.
This wasn't about religioustalk or routine.

(03:34):
It was about how they treatedothers, how leaders used their
power and whether the peoplestill honored God in their
everyday lives.
Micah spoke especially againstthose leaders, priests, prophets
, judges and landowners who weresupposed to protect the people

(03:58):
but instead using theirpositions to take from the poor
and benefit themselves.
And we see all that in chapter3, verses 1 through 4, and
chapter 2, verse 1 and 2.
And Micah didn't sugarcoatanything.
He brought a serious warning.
Judgment was coming.
But this wasn't just aboutpunishment, it was a wake-up

(04:23):
call, a chance to turn backbefore it was too late.
Now here's something powerfulabout how Micah shared God's
message.
He used courtroom language likea prophet slash lawyer.
He brings a case against thepeople on God's behalf.
He brings a case against thepeople on God's behalf In

(04:50):
chapter 6, verses 1 and 2, heeven invites the mountains to
hear the trial, as if creationitself is being called as a
witness.
He also lays out the chargesIdolatry we see that in chapter
1, 7 and chapter 5, verse 12 and14.

Injustice Micah 2 (05:05):
8-11 and 3: 8-11.
And empty religion.
That's Micah 6, verses 6 and 7.
Micah also spoke God's wordswith authority.
He didn't appeal or plead, hedeclared, instructed and

(05:29):
indicted.
Those words carried the weightof someone delivering a verdict,
not offering advice.
His prophecy is structured inthree oracles.
Oracles mean three distinctmessages or speeches.
Each one begins with the wordhear or listen, depending on

(05:52):
your Bible translation.
Hear or listen, depending onyour Bible translation.
In chapter 1, verse 2, itbegins with Hear, o peoples.
In chapter 3, verse 1, itbegins with Listen, you, leaders
of Jacob.
And in chapter 6, verse 1, wesee Listen to what the Lord says

(06:13):
.
Listen to what the Lord says.
It's like God is calling thepeople into court to hear his
case.
And in each oracle Micah movesfrom judgment to hope, from
confronting sin to reminding thepeople of God's mercy.
And the heart of God's messagein this book is Micah 6.8.

(06:38):
He has shown you, o man, whatis good and what does the Lord
require of you?
To act justly and to love mercyand to walk humbly with your
God.
The people ask what God wantsfrom them.

(07:00):
They made suggestions.
How about burn offerings?
How about rivers of oil?
Even their firstborn children?
We see that in chapter 6,verses 5 through 7.
We see that in chapter 6,verses 5 through 7.

(07:20):
Micah responds, making it clearthat this wasn't about rituals
or outward religion.
God was after their hearts,their lives, their actions.
So let's bring that forward totoday.
Picture someone who shows up tochurch every week, sings all the
songs, maybe even volunteers,but all week long they lie,

(07:43):
manipulate others and ignore theneeds around them.
Micah would say God isn'timpressed by big performances.
He's looking for justice, mercyand humility lived out in real
life.
But Micah doesn't stop there.

(08:04):
He gives us hope, not vagueoptimism, but a real, solid
promise.
But you, bethlehem, ephrathah,though you are small among the
clans of Judah, out of you willcome for me one who will be

(08:25):
ruler over Israel, whose originsare from of old, from ancient
times.
That was Micah.
Chapter 5, verse 2, where hespeaks of a ruler coming from
Bethlehem.
He's referring to Jesus, theMessiah, who would shepherd his
people with strength and bringpeace.

(08:47):
Even in the middle of darktimes.
God was already preparing apath for restoration.
God was already preparing apath for restoration.
Even when we fail again andagain, he remains faithful.
True peace and justice willcome when the Messiah reigns,

(09:09):
and through Jesus that kingdomhas already begun.
And the book ends with one ofthe most beautiful portraits of
God's character, who is a Godlike you Remember that's Micah's
name who pardons sins andforgives.

(09:31):
You do not stay angry forever,but delight to show mercy.
You will again have compassionon us.
You will tread our sinsunderfoot and hurl all as you

(09:56):
pledged on oath to our ancestorsin days long ago.
That was chapter 7, verses 18through 20.
God's judgment is real, but sois his mercy.
Now let's look at Micah's use ofprophetic imagery.

(10:19):
Micah didn't just preachsermons.
He painted pictures with hiswords.
His prophecy is full of vivid,unforgettable imagery that
helped his audience understandthe seriousness of what was
happening and what was coming.
In chapter 1, verse 6, hedescribes Samaria, the capital

(10:43):
of the northern kingdom, beingreduced to a heap of rubble in a
field.
That's not just poetic language.
He's talking about realdestruction because of their
idolatry and injustice.
Micah chapter 2, verses 1through 2, gives us another

(11:04):
image.
He describes people lying inbed planning evil like it's part
of their morning routine.
Evil like it's part of theirmorning routine.
It's a picture of intentionalsin People dreaming up schemes
at night and then carrying themout first thing in the morning
without a second thought.
He also compares leaders tocannibals eating the flesh of

(11:30):
people In chapter 3, verses 1through 3, flesh of people in
chapter 3, verses 1 through 3.
It's graphic.
On purpose, micah says they'redevouring the very people
they're supposed to protect.
That's how deeply injustice hadtaken root.
Those in power were feeding offthe vulnerable instead of

(11:52):
caring for them.
But there's hope in thoseimages too.
In chapter 4, verses 3 and 4,he shares a peaceful picture of
the future, a time when peoplewill beat their swords into
plowshares and sit under theirown vine and fig tree with no

(12:15):
one to make them afraid.
These reflect visions oflong-term stability, justice,
peace and restoration.
A world made right.
These word pictures madeMicah's message stick.
They were bold, sometimesuncomfortable, but always clear.

(12:40):
God wanted his people to wakeup to see the damage of
injustice and the beauty ofwalking in his way.
Now let's talk about how thisbook connects to Jesus.
Micah's message wasn't justabout judgment and justice in

(13:00):
his own day.
It pointed forward to someonewho would come and fulfill
everything Micah hoped for.
Let's revisit a few key verses,but this time let's listen with
Jesus in mind.
Each one shines a light on whohe is and why he came Again.

(13:24):
Micah 5.2.
But you, bethlehem, ephrathah,though you are small among the
clans of Judah, out of you willcome for me one who will be
ruler.
This promise wasn't just abouta political leader.
It was about a different kindof king political leader, it was

(13:59):
about a different kind of king.
Jesus fulfilled this prophecy,born in the small town of
Bethlehem we see that in Matthew, chapter 2, verse 5 and 6, but
he didn't come with militarypower, he came as a shepherd
king, leading with strength,compassion and peace.
And then there's Micah 6:8.
He has shown you, o man, whatis good and what does the Lord

(14:25):
require of you To act justly, tolove mercy and to walk humbly
with your God.
Jesus didn't just teach this,he lived it perfectly.
He acted justly by welcomingthe outcast, he showed mercy to
the sinner, he walked humblywith the Father, even to the

(14:50):
cross.
And now he invites us to followhim in the same way, not
through rituals, but throughrelationship, not by trying
harder but by trusting.
And lastly, we'll look at Micah,chapter 7, verses 18 through 20

(15:11):
.
Who is a God like you, whopardons sin and forgives the
transgression of the remnant ofhis inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever,but delight to show mercy.
You will again have compassionon us.
You will tread our sinsunderfoot and hurl all our

(15:36):
iniquities into the depths ofthe sea.
Through Jesus, this becomespersonal.
At the cross, god didn't justdeclare forgiveness, he paid for
it.
Jesus took the weight of oursin and buried it once and for

(15:56):
all.
Micah's name means who is likethe Lord, and in Jesus we see
the full answer.
There was no one like himfaithful, forgiving and full of
grace.
So when we ask where is Jesusand Micah?
He's in the promised king, therighteous servant, the merciful

(16:20):
God.
Micah shows us that even whenjudgment is deserved, god's
mercy is never far behind.
And in Jesus that mercy has aname.
So here's the core of Micah'smessage God takes sin seriously,

(16:41):
he cares deeply about how wetreat others.
He will bring justice, but healso offers forgiveness,
restoration and hope.
Offers forgiveness, restorationand hope.
Micah reminds us that whatmatters most isn't impressing
God with big achievements.
It's not about performance orreligious routine.

(17:04):
It's about walking with him dayby day, with a heart that
reflects his love and hisjustice, that reflects his love
and his justice.
So if you've ever wondered whatGod really wants from you, micah
gives the answer loud and clearAct justly, love mercy, walk

(17:26):
humbly with your God.
As you go through your week,maybe ask yourself where can I
act justly?
Where can I show mercy?
Where can I walk humbly withGod?
Next time we'll be looking atanother powerful prophetic book

(17:47):
Nahum, a message about God'sjustice in a world full of
violence.
God's justice in a world fullof violence.
Until then, keep reading, keepseeking and keep growing in your
faith and, as always, if thisepisode helped you, share it
with a friend, leave a reviewand subscribe if you're on

(18:09):
YouTube, so you don't misswhat's next.