I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. – Micah 2:12

Today’s Scripture Reading (January 22, 2014): Micah 2

When I was small, my family moved away from our traditional home in Eastern Canada. We moved from the communities that surround Toronto, Ontario to Calgary, Alberta. It was about a 2000 mile jump. And when we moved, we left a lot of family behind. I have fond memories of the family left behind, but I also recognize that there are parts of my extended family that I know very little about. Over the years, parts of the family also moved to Alberta, and so we were able to reconnect and rebuild relationships. But a few years ago one of my cousins passed away unexpectedly. And in those moments you begin to wonder about the relationships that have been lost – to mourn them and wish that we could somehow all be together again.

Micah prophecies of a time when the family of Jacob (Israel) would be brought together again. Micah comment is specific – it is about all of the family. In the time that Micah was writing, “all of you” would have been interpreted to be both Israel and Judah – and reunification of the whole family of Jacob. And Micah continues to describe the party. He talks about the remnant, which means that it will be only a representative part of the family that will be brought together, but he also speaks of the place that will “throng with people.” Throng usually indicates a big group. So this is not a small party, many of the children of Jacob, from across all of the thirteen tribes, will be part of the celebration. Micah also speaks of the place of the party. He says that God will bring them together in a place that will be like sheep in a pen or a flock in its own pasture. The words indicate that the reunification will happen in a safe place. And a safe place is usually a big asset to a great party.

Micah’s description makes us want to be there. But there is a problem. Some have interpreted the words of Micah to indicate that the exile in Babylon would not be the final chapter in the story of Jacob; that a remnant would return to Palestine, the ancient homeland of the Jewish people. But the Babylonian exile only involved the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (and Levi when we include the priests and the Levites that were also part of that exile – all committed to the work of God in the Temple in Jerusalem.) But three tribes out of thirteen is hardly all. So if it was not the return to the homeland of the Jews from Babylon, then what event was Micah talking about. And the short answer is that we don’t know. This reunion has never happened.

But for the Christian, we see it as happening as the Jewish people finally come to accept Jesus as their coming Messiah. It would seem that only in Christ can this reunification ever happen. And in that instance, the party will not just include the thirteen tribes of Israel, it will include all of us as God removes the boundaries that keep us apart.

We believe that Micah’s family reunion is still coming. And for those who like reunions, we can’t wait for the time of celebration to finally arrive.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Micah 3