In the third and final cycle of his prophecies Micah depicts a courtroom, where the Lord Himself rises to bring His charge against His people, summoning creation—the mountains and the very foundations of the earth—as witnesses to hear His case. God reminds His people how He redeemed them from slavery, gave them leaders in Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, and protected them from threats on their journey into the land He had promised. Yet, instead of remembering His saving acts and knowing Him personally, the people turned to their hollow religion, imagining that costly sacrifices or extreme offerings might satisfy Him. The Lord rejects such pretence and lays bare what He truly requires: that His people act with justice, love with mercy, and walk humbly with their God.
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:7-8 (NIV)
Earning God’s Favours
In those days, it was common for people to sacrifice their firstborn to please God, a practice that had become widespread by the time of Micah, with kings and judges going to extreme lengths to secure victory or favour. King Mesha of Moab offered his eldest son to Chemosh, Jephthah sacrificed his daughter following a rash vow, and King Ahaz and King Manasseh of Judah burned their children in the fire as part of idolatrous practices. Even Hannah, though she did not kill Samuel, participated in the same cultural mindset, dedicating her son to the Lord in a vow that resembled a transactional bargain with God. Despite these acts, no one was truly willing to do what God asked: to walk with Him and learn His ways.
This pattern continues today, as many focus on external acts of devotion—donations, rituals, or religious observances—hoping to earn God’s favour. When Paul wrote to the Romans, he explained that “where sin increased, grace increased all the more,” yet today some have shifted the focus, teaching that when sin increases, rituals must increase. Fasting, special meetings, days of cleansing after Christmas, or the observance of Lent before Easter are often emphasised—not to draw people closer to God, but as distractions from truly understanding His will.
The burden of sacrifice is often what people cling to, for such deprivation convinces them that they have done something for God. In reality, it stems from a failure to grasp who God is, for instead of beholding His majesty, they reduce Him to the likeness of man—thinking that, just as one must offer gifts to please people, so too must one offer something to appease God. In this way, people become content with rituals and festival observances, imagining that celebrating His Son’s birth or mourning on the day of His crucifixion fulfils their duty. Yet in doing so, they neglect what God truly desires: that we live justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. True obedience is not measured by outward offerings or performances, but by lives aligned with His will.
The Lord calls out such practices, urging reverence and obedience, and condemning corruption and injustice. He denounces dishonest scales, false weights, violence, and deceit among the people, declaring that their sins will bring ruin. Though they labour and store up wealth, their efforts will be in vain—they will eat without satisfaction, plant without harvesting, and store without security. Their devotion to the sinful practices of their leaders shows that they have followed human traditions rather than God’s ways. As a result, the city will face destruction, derision, and the scorn of the nations. The question remains for us today: whose traditions are we following, whose desires are we seeking to fulfill—Jesus’s or our forefathers’?
Waiting on the LORD
Micah laments a society stripped of integrity, where faithful and upright people are nowhere to be found. Violence, deceit, and exploitation pervade every level—from rulers demanding gifts and judges accepting bribes, to the powerful manipulating others for their own gain. Even the “best” among them are harmful, like briers and thorns. A day of reckoning is at hand, bringing confusion and alarm, as distrust within communities. Neighbors, friends, and even family members have become sources of betrayal. This serves as a warning today: when greed, self-interest, and corruption replace justice, mercy, and integrity, society suffers, trust disintegrates, and communities face inevitable consequence
For a son dishonors his father,
a daughter rises up against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.
Micah 7:6-7 (NIV)
Walking closely with God inevitably sets us apart, because His ways are not the ways of the world. Even within our own families, pursuing obedience to Him can create division, as Jesus Himself warned that His coming would “set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother” (Matthew 10:35). The reason is simple: the world rejected Christ, and by that same measure, it will reject those who belong to Him.
This reality can deter many from taking the walk of faith, as they fear losing harmony with loved ones or peace within their community. Some even caution against deeper involvement in church or spiritual duties, suggesting that such commitment only stirs conflict. Yet, true love for others is revealed in embracing the One we love—Christ Himself. Those who genuinely love us will also respect and, in time, recognise the love we have for Him, while others will choose to hate us simply because they hate Him.
His Mercy Endures Forever
Micah does not conclude his prophecy in despair; instead, he ends with steadfast hope amid personal and national suffering. Though fallen and surrounded by darkness, he declares that the Lord will be his light, vindicating him and upholding justice. The downfall of enemies who mocked God’s power is certain, while the faithful will witness restoration—walls rebuilt, boundaries expanded, and people gathered from distant lands. Though human sin has caused desolation, God’s mercy remains central: He shepherds His people, performs wonders as He did in the Exodus, and humbles the nations, making them tremble and ashamed.
Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy.
You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Micah 7:18-19 (NIV)
Micah reveals God’s unique character, revolutionary for the people at a time when exile loomed: He pardons sin, forgives transgression, and does not remain angry, delighting instead in showing mercy. The remnant of His people will experience restoration, forgiveness, and protection, affirming God’s faithfulness to His promises to Jacob, Abraham, and their descendants. The prophecy presents a dual reality: judgment for wrongdoing and hope for the faithful. It calls the people to rely on God’s justice and mercy, showing that even amid betrayal, suffering, or widespread corruption, His compassion restores and vindicates those who trust in Him.
God extends mercy and delays judgment because His simple desire is to bring us back to Himself. He is our true Father, the One who created us, and His end goal is not our destruction but our restoration—to draw us into His work now and to share in His rule when His purposes are complete. Unlike the world, which values us only for what we produce, God values us, His beloved creation. With people we must constantly strive to please, but with God we are simply called to return. His patience and mercy flow from His love, giving us time and opportunity to turn back to Him and walk in His will.
Discussion Questions
- Why do people think God is pleased with extravagant sacrifices rather than simply obeying Him?
- How does pursuing a close relationship with God lead to separation from those around us, and is this why many avoid taking that walk?
- Why does God keep extending His mercy and delay judgment, giving us time to turn back to Him?
The Jordan Valley 
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