“What God Requires”

Micah 5 to 7 Micah was a simple peasant whom God chose to speak to His people because He had a complaint against them. Micah told them that God would contend with them because they followed Balaam, whose way was tainted by the love of money. God told Micah to ask them this question: Have you forgotten how I redeemed you from bondage? That is a good question for us to ask ourselves as well. What drives us to be faithful? The author of Hebrews says: “Oh, that today you would listen as He speaks! Do not harden your heart.”[Heb 3:15]

Our gracious God has given us some simple tests to show that our heart is right. The psalmist says start here: “Create in me a pure heart” [Ps 51:10]  The prophet Micah tells the wayward Israelites that God has not made it hard! “He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you: He wants you to carry out justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before your God.” [Mic 6:8NET]

Micah then extols the attributes of God! He pardons iniquity and He passes over the transgressions of the remnant of His heritage. He doesn’t retain His anger forever, He delights in mercy, and He will have compassion again.

That is the God who loves us; will we love Him in return?