In preparation for Rosh Hashanah it is wise that we consider just Who our God is. Micah most profoundly tells us. His question "Who is a God like You?" is a play on Micah's name. Micah's name means, "Who is like God?" And this is a rhetorical question. The answer is, there is no one like God. He stands alone, He is unique in every way, He is supreme in all of God's creation.

Micah 7:18 is the climax of Micah's prophetic word and the most important statement made in his entire book. It comes in the context of Micah revealing four ways in which the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is superior to all others.

First, He is superior in justice (Micah 7:1-7), and as such He is the superior Judge. In these verses Micah reveals that the Lord does not have a separate standard by which he judges the nations and another standard by which he judges his own people Israel. He is superior in justice, and as such will bring judgment upon his own people as well as on the other nations. And though the righteous within the nation will also suffer with the nation, nevertheless that which will distinguish the righteous from the unrighteous is the fact that the righteous will "watch in hope for the Lord," and "wait for God my Savior," having the confidence that "my God will hear me" (Micha 7:7).

Second, He is superior in faithfulness (Micah 7:8-13). Because God is superior in faithfulness He will fulfill His to Israel. The nations are told not to gloat over the condition of Israel (vs.8), because their "fallen" condition is not permanent. Things will be turned around for Israel and the nations will be vanquished (vs.10), and Israel's borders will be extended (vs.11).

Third, He is superior in compassion (Micah 7:14-17). Because God is superior in compassion He is their Good Shepherd. Micah call upon the Lord to shepherd His flock Israel. To use the crook of His staff to keep the sheep close when they wonder off, and to use the extended stem of his staff to protect his flock from their enemies.

Fourth, He is superior in mercy (Micah 7:18-20). Because God is superior in mercy He can pardon all of Israel's iniquity. Verse 19 is the basis for the Jewish tradition of tashlich. The word tashlich is derived from the Hebrew verb "to cast," or "to throw." This observance occurs on the day of Rosh Hashanah. Jewish people will fill their pockets with bread crumbs. The yeast or leaven in the bread crumbs serves to symbolize or represent their sin. At a moving body of water like a river, stream, or ocean, Jewish people will "cast" or "throw" the bread crumbs into the water while confessing and repenting of their sin. This observance is meant to symbolize God forgiving and removing their sin from them.

But the way that our sin is removed must involve atonement for that sin. And as Moses wrote, "...it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life" (Leviticus 17:11). This is why Messiah Yeshua came. To provide the ultimate sacrifice for our sin, and thereby not merely covering our sin, but removing far from us. In the words of Micah, "casting our sin into the depths of the sea."

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