Who is a God like You?

As we flick through the back end of the Old Testament, looking for the little book of Micah, it might seem that voices like his should remain confined to the dusty corridors of history. The genre, poetic and prophetic, is unfamiliar; the historical backdrop is full of superpowers, like Assyria and Babylon, who no longer exist; and there’s mention of temples, offerings and high places.

But, underneath the unfamiliar layers, this Bible book is packed full of themes that speak to the heart of 21st century society, and to you and I as we sit and read it. Micah brings our holy, just and merciful God into focus as these chapters reverberate with the question of who is a God like this? 

As the question is raised, and answered, Micah gives his readers a courtroom scenario in which God himself bears witness against his people. Justice is coming, from his hand, and it is righteous and deserved in the face of rife idolatry and corruption. 

The weighty judgement, felt deeply through powerful imagery, leaves God’s people facing destruction. But there is a faithful remnant, to whom Micah speaks and who is listening. As we listen in with them, we see mercy from the same hand that will deliver grief. We see it in vibrant, hopeful colour through pictures of mountains, shepherds and kings. And we sigh with relief that this God will gather his people and bring them through painful judgement into mercy-given, sin-pardoned life. 

Having found Micah, amidst those ancient minor prophets, we catch a glimpse of the current headlines. They’re full of corrupt leaders; vulnerable, abused people; and the marginalised being manipulated. We long for righteous justice, but also concrete, mercy-filled hope.  We need Micah’s words now because we need to know what our God is like, and what he is doing with our sin-riddled, Christ-needing world.