©2002 Thomas Miles

Amos 7--8

Let's think about how we would have felt if we were around during Amos' time.  How would we have received his prophecies?  Let's also put ourselves in Israel's place.  Here you are wealthy, successful, prestigious, & powerful and some sheep farmer & fruit picker comes to town prophesying of God's judgment.  Think of how you respond when you are confronted by your pastor about sins in your life!  How do you react when the Holy Spirit convicts you through a television evangelist, or Internet minister?  In chapters 7--8 we will look at Amos's visions and characteristic reactions to them.  I think you will see a very close correlation to the way many of us react to confrontation from God!

Please read Amos chapters 7 & 8 before going on.

In chapter 7 God shows to Amos, three visions of the judgments He is about to bring on Israel. The first is a plague of locusts to destroy the harvest found in verses 1-3. The next vision threatens judgment by fire found in verses 4-6.  The third vision in chapter 7 is found in verses 7-9 representing the complete overthrow of Israel.  The Lord showed mercy in the first two visions to Amos, but in the third vision He said He would no longer spare Israel.  Verses 10-17 speak of the plumb-line test that Amos, the prophet, goes through.  Amaziah, priest of Bethel, brings accusations against Amos to the king.  The Israelites are not thrilled with these visions that Amos is reporting.  They are angered and cannot see how God would bring anything like that upon them the chosen people!  Almost like certain countries today in how they feel about their security!  Nothing can ever harm us!

If you were Amos would you be looking for a back door out of the land at this time?  If you were Amos would you be thinking about questioning God?  Hey God, did you really show me these things?  Amos didn't run, he didn't look for a way to escape instead he continued to tell the people of the visions the Lord gave him.

Chapter 8 begins with a fourth vision indicating the definite destruction of Israel.  Verses 1-3 say that the Lord will no longer spare Israel and it will happen soon.  In verses 4-6 Amos describes the lifestyle of those that are 'ripe for judgment.'  He says they enslaved the needy and poor, they were greedy and thought only of themselves.  Amos continues in verses 7-10 to tell of the impending judgment of Israel.  What Israel has done God views as something horrendous that He can no longer overlook.  Being God's chosen people makes no difference at this time.  Israel lost that privilege through their constant sin.  Amos then tells of the hunger they will have for the Word of God.  The Lord says in verses 11-14 that He will send a famine on the land.  It will not be a famine of hunger for food or drink, but instead it will be a famine for the hearing of the Word of the Lord.

Do you think there is famine in the land today?  In most countries we can freely read the Word of God but is it truly digested?  Amos was tempted to compromise his beliefs in chapter 7 but he stood strong in the Lord and obeyed the voice of God.  The next time you are faced with temptation to compromise what you know is right think about Amos!  There was a vision of hope until the very last moment.  Our last lesson in Amos will look at the visions of hope found in chapter 9.

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