If you had heard Micah speak the words of this prophecy, you would have felt completely hopeless. But the wonderful thing is that it didn’t actually happen for another 100 years. If you want to know why, turn to Jeremiah 26.

The city of Jerusalem and its temple were still standing 100 years after Micah said that they would be destroyed. Jeremiah reminds the people of God what Micah said, “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. 'Zion shall be ploughed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height’” (Jer. 26:18).

Notice what happened when Micah gave this message: “Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favour of the LORD, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them?” (Jer. 26:19).

Micah spoke the Word of God all through the years of King Ahaz (20 years), and if ever there was a leader who abused the trust he was given by God it was Ahaz. Think about what that was like for Micah—twenty years of teaching the Word and faithful prayer, and no sign of progress.

Then Hezekiah came to the throne. The new king heard Micah’s message and God touched his heart. Who could have predicted that the son of the most notoriously wicked Ahaz would turn with all his heart to the Lord? That’s what happened. Hezekiah turned to the Lord, the Lord relented, and an entire generation was saved from disaster.

Micah’s preaching and praying made a difference. The disaster he spoke of was postponed and he lived to see a great turning back to God in his generation.

Why do you think God included this story in the Bible?