Ann Voskamp, Christianity in Nigeria, and No Pollyanna Prophets

We often read Micah 5:2 at Christmastime: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you one will go out for me, to be ruler in Israel; and his origins are from of old, from ancient days” (LEB). Reading this verse against the backdrop of Christ’s birth, we envision Micah as a gentle prophet bearing a gentle message. But Matt Morton explains that the context of Micah’s message reveals much more about its implications.

The January–February ’14 issue of Bible Study Magazine features this article and others as part our special section on the eighth- through seventh-century (BC) Minor Prophets. If you subscribe today, you’ll also get the following:

• Do Prophecies Sometimes Fail? Explore the nature of biblical prophecy and how, sometimes, prophecies were designed to fail. (And why we should be glad they did.)
• Making Sense of Severity. Divine justice in Nahum can be difficult to understand and explain. Here are some helpful steps for interpreting this prophetic book.
• This Time, It’s Personal: Sometimes the prophets had to move beyond simply telling the truth. Sometimes, the message and the messenger were one.  
• The Predestined, Yet Free, Prophet: How Jonah was free and God’s purposes were fulfilled anyway.

You’ll also receive a cover story featuring Ann Voskamp, a feature story on the state of Christianity in Nigeria, and an interview with Brad Lomenick, leader and director of Catalyst. Subscribe today!