How does Micah 6:5 remind us of God's past faithfulness to Israel? Micah 6:5—A Call to Remember “ ‘My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab plotted, and what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and recall your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.’ ” Balak and Balaam: When Curses Became Blessings • Numbers 22–24 records Balak hiring Balaam to curse Israel. • Each attempted curse was turned into a blessing (Numbers 23:11-12, 23:20, 24:10). • God’s protection was so complete that even a pagan prophet had to proclaim, “The LORD their God is with them” (Numbers 23:21). • Deuteronomy 23:4-5 reminds Israel that God “turned the curse into a blessing for you because the LORD your God loves you.” • Micah points back to this event to highlight God’s unwavering defense of His covenant people. From Shittim to Gilgal: Crossing Into Promise • Shittim was Israel’s final campsite east of the Jordan (Joshua 2:1). • At God’s command, the Jordan River stopped, allowing the nation to cross on dry ground (Joshua 3:15-17). • Gilgal became the first foothold in the Promised Land (Joshua 4:19-20). • Twelve memorial stones were set up there “so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty” (Joshua 4:24). • Micah invokes this journey as proof that God not only delivers but also fulfills every promise. Key Lessons on God’s Faithfulness • He sovereignly overrules hostile powers—turning intended harm into blessing (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:31). • He keeps covenant promises to bring His people safely into their inheritance (Exodus 6:7-8; Joshua 21:45). • His past acts are recorded so that each generation “may know the righteous acts of the LORD” (Micah 6:5). • Remembering fuels trust; forgetting breeds unbelief (Psalm 106:7-13). Applications for Today • Rehearse specific instances where God has turned adversity into blessing in your life. • Mark milestones—spiritual “Gilgals”—that testify to His guidance and provision. • Let Scripture’s historical records motivate fresh confidence: the God who protected Israel still guards His people (Hebrews 13:8). |
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