Bible in 365 Days – Day 172

Focus Chapters:

• Amos 1-6

Standout Verse(s):

Amos 4:6-12, 5:19-20 NLT

“I brought hunger to every city
and famine to every town.
But still you would not return to me,”
says the Lord.

“I kept the rain from falling
when your crops needed it the most.
I sent rain on one town
but withheld it from another.
Rain fell on one field,
while another field withered away.
People staggered from town to town looking for water,
but there was never enough.
But still you would not return to me,”
says the Lord.

“I struck your farms and vineyards with blight and mildew.
Locusts devoured all your fig and olive trees.
But still you would not return to me,”
says the Lord.

“I sent plagues on you
like the plagues I sent on Egypt long ago.
I killed your young men in war
and led all your horses away.
The stench of death filled the air!
But still you would not return to me,”
says the Lord.

“I destroyed some of your cities,
as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
Those of you who survived
were like charred sticks pulled from a fire.
But still you would not return to me,”
says the Lord.

“Therefore, I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced.
Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!”

In that day you will be like a man who runs from a lion—
only to meet a bear.
Escaping from the bear, he leans his hand against a wall in his house—
and he’s bitten by a snake.

Observation (s):

1. In His attempts to get His people to turn from their wicked ways and return to Him, God allowed misfortunes to happen in their lives.
   
   

   In that day you will be like a man who runs from a lion—
   only to meet a bear.
   Escaping from the bear, he leans his hand against a wall in his house—
   and he’s bitten by a snake.

   
   
2. Despite their misfortunes, the people of Israel refused to return to God.
   
   

   “I sent plagues on you
   like the plagues I sent on Egypt long ago.
   I killed your young men in war
   and led all your horses away.
   The stench of death filled the air!
   But still you would not return to me,”
   says the Lord.

   
   
3. Because of their disobedience and refusal to heed the signs He gave to prod their return, God pronounced judgement upon His people.
   
   

   
   

   “I destroyed some of your cities,
   as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
   Those of you who survived
   were like charred sticks pulled from a fire.
   But still you would not return to me,”
   says the Lord.

   
   

   
   

   “Therefore, I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced.
   Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!”

Application:

God never destroys a nation without a warning. In Israel’s case, before pronouncing judgement, through Amos, God allowed several personal misfortunes to affect his people. God sent a lion-like problem. Immediately after they overcame it, along came a bear-like situation. Again they survived and reached their houses. Thinking they are safe, they paused to take a breath only to be bitten by an unforeseen snake-like problem. Despite these misfortunes, the Israelites clung to their wicked ways, ignoring God and His signs in the process.

Finally, God draws the last straw. Seeing that his people have totally forsaken Him and have no intention of repenting and returning to His ordinances, He proclaims judgement on the nation of Israel, through Amos.

If you have been faced by unrelenting problems, without reprieve, it is time you pause and check that you and God are heading in the same direction. God often sends the lions, bears and snakes problems to warn us to return to or check in Him. Don’t force Him to proclaim judgement on you because you failed to confirm that you and He were aligned.