The Situation Will Change For The Better

Micah 7:8
Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be my light.

Micah was a prophet who warned Israelites of coming punishment for sins. Micah also promised that God will restore Israel. Our text today is the promise of restoration. Micah says in his prophecy that though Israel goes down, Israel will rise again. The situation will change for the better!

Micah writes to the enemies of Israel like Edomites (see our article titled “Serves Him Right!” Will Serve You Terribly). Micah tells Edomites and others that do not celebrate my downfall because I will rise again. Though Israel has fallen, Israel will rise. Though Israel is in darkness, it will soon be in the light. Enemies, be warned, do not celebrate, it is not over, Israel will rise again. The situation will change for the better!

Micah is not writing during restoration, he is writing before disaster strikes. Micah tells us that bad times are coming, but there will be good times after the bad times. Micah is hopeful. The story of Israel will end well. We need such hope that sees beyond terrible times. We need faith that says, even if the worst happens, the story will end well. We must believe deep in us that though bad things happen, good things will follow by the grace of God. The situation will change for the better!

Are you looking forward to some bad times? Micah lived at a time when the nation was looking forward to bad times. Are you looking forward to bad grades after a tough exam? Are you looking forward to a season of very low profits? Are you afraid that the contract will not be renewed? Are you afraid of salary cuts? Is your marriage on the rocks and the worst yet to come? Is the relationship cracking and getting worse? Is your health degenerating even after visiting various doctors? Israel during Micah’s time was anticipating very bad times ahead of them.

God sends Micah to confirm that indeed the bad times are coming. Micah confirms that there will be a falling. Micah confirms that there will be darkness. False prophets and prosperity preachers who fool us, tell us that nothing bad will happen. God says, that at times the bad we expect will really happen. After praying that it doesn’t happen, it will happen. Bad things will surely come and happen. But Micah does not stop there. Micah tells us that the story will not end negatively. The situation will change for the better!

If you are approaching bad times, do not despair. If you are already in bad times do not give up. If the worst is your present experience persevere. If you have fallen, accept it but do not surrender to failure. God promises through Micah that Israel will rise again. Israel will experience light again. The situation will change for the better!

You will fail the exam, but your future life will be better because God will bring the success that is not based on grades, or you will resit the exam and be the best student. The story will end well. The relationship will end painfully, you will be hurt and lose weight, but God will bring someone else and you will never regret or you will be so happy and healthy alone. The story will end well. Bear the pain for now, but the story will end well. The situation will change for the better!

Micah 7:9 tells us that suffering comes from God because we have sinned against God. We suffer because we are sinners. But the same God who allows us to suffer is the same God who restores us. Therefore even if God doesn’t answer my prayers, I will trust Him, because it is Him who will change my situation from bad to better. Job 13:15 even if God kills me, I will trust Him. Daniel 3:18 even if God allows us to burn in the fire we will remain faithful to Him. The God who allows us to suffer is the same God who ensures that the story ends well. The God who lets me fall will enable me to rise. The God who throws me into darkness will be my light. God who let Satan persecute Job is the God who made Job’s life two times better than before the persecution, Job 42:10. If we remain faithful to God, He will make things better. The situation will change for the better!

Micah 7:10 tells us that the enemy who laughs at Israel now will be covered in shame. It is the reality of life that someone somewhere very close to you celebrates your misfortune. There is someone somewhere discussing your life like an expert. There is someone saying they knew you won’t last you will fall. There is someone telling others that you are done and dusted. God tells Micah like He told prophet Obadiah, to make a prophetic promise about these people who celebrate the failure of others. Those who seem to sympathize but are celebrating. God says through the prophets that He Himself will bring them to shame. As things get better for God’s people, their enemies will be in shame. The Psalmist wrote that God will prepare a feast in the presence of enemies, Psalm 23:5. The situation will change for the better!

God does not just restore the nation, He also brings to shame those who made the suffering days worse. God Himself promises to identify and punish with shame, those who celebrated the bad days of God’s people. Therefore as you suffer do not worry about what people say. Do not accept to be hurt by betrayal. Wait on God. When He raises you up, He will bring them to shame. Do not fight anyone. Do not revenge. God will do it. Is anyone suffering? Pray for them. The God who brought their suffering will raise them up. Do not celebrate, do not comment. God who punishes restores. Punishment by God is not rejection by God. The situation will change for the better!

Let us be warned, friends. We shouldn’t enjoy sin, because after punishment God will restore us. A time will come when sinners will be permanently punished. Eternal destruction. Eternal death. For now, God who punishes will also restore. Do not make it a habit to sin, suffer, and wait for restoration. It is a dangerous gamble. Get saved and turn to God permanently. For now, God who punishes will restore us when we confess our sins and repent. The situation will change for the better!

What is your situation today? It will change for the better. What are the prospects for the future? It will change for the better. Is someone suffering and it is secretly exciting you? Be warned, God is watching, it will get worse for you but for them, it will change for the better. Is anyone hurting you? It will change for the better. It will change for the better, in Jesus’ name, Amen!