Day 181 – Amos: Reasons for judgment
“From among all the families on the earth, I have been intimate with you alone. That is why I must punish you for all your sins.” Amos 3:2 NLT
Read Amos 3:1 to 6:14
God chose Israel to be the people (His family) through whom all other nations of the world could know Him. He had made this promise to Abraham, the father of the Israelites, in Genesis 12. Israel didn’t do anything to be chosen; God had chosen to reveal Himself to them in a unique and loving relationship. He had given them this special privilege because He wanted to, not because they deserved it. Pride in their privileged position and their conquests and wealth, however, ruined the Israelites’ sensitivity to the will of God and the plight of others.
With a series of seven rhetorical questions (ones we can ask ourselves), Amos showed how two events are linked together. Once one event takes place, the second will surely follow. The revelation received from God was the sure sign that judgment would follow, and God would soon allow disaster to descend upon Israel as punishment for their sins. Amos outlines Israel’s sin against God with a call to repentance, and because God is filled with mercy and love, He always warned His people through several prophets beforehand.
Prayer: Father, thank You that we are part of Your family through Jesus, our redeemer. Thank you that still today, You still warn and talk through Your Word and prophets. May we heed Your call and put our pride to death to see the sin we need to repent. Amen.
