Devotional For the Week—25 Sep 2006

A Distant Rumbling

Scriptural Text: Amos 3: 1-15

Different people have different privileges and benefits in life. Some of these privileges and benefits are biological (eg. talents one is born with), others material (eg. club memberships). However, all privileges and benefits come with terms.

In today’s passage, we read that Israel was a chosen nation. How Israel used that privilege went under condemnation, as she abused her privileges. Amos chapters 1 and 2 detailed what Israel did wrong and when compared with her unbelieving neighbours, Israel was found to be no different from them. What is written of Israel is applicable to the church today. We too are a chosen people. We are chosen to show what it is like to be God’s people, to reveal God and His ways to our ungodly surroundings. Have we, like Israel, abused this privilege given to us? Let us learn the lessons that our scriptural text reveals today.

1. Warnings point towards more severe consequences.

In Amos 3:3-6, God asked a set of rhetorics, that is, questions that showed cause and effect. For eg. a bird could only fall into a trap if a snare had been set (see verse 5). As God is Sovereign, disaster only falls if the Lord causes or allows it (verse 6). God is a merciful God and He will not allow disaster to fall on His people unless He first warns them repeatedly. In Israel’s days, He warned them through the prophets. We often complain about warnings and consider them as nagging but we should really be grateful for these warnings as it is God’s grace, a distant rumbling, a warning of the storm to come. God is an expert on life and He cares about us. A good God does what He needs to bring His people safely through life and safely home to His heavenly kingdom. What warnings have you been receiving lately? What is your response to these warnings?

2. When we do not heed warnings, privileges get forfeited.

Israel tested God many times and repeatedly, God saved them only to have Israel disobey God again. You only need to look at Moses and Israel’s journey out of Egypt to the Promised Land to see this trend. After entering it, Israel continued to disobey God. Now Israel’s privilege of God’s hand of protection and guidance over them was going to be forfeited. What privileges have you received by being a child of God? If you have been receiving warnings, will you turn back to God and set your life right?

3. We should learn by observation.

In verse 9, God invited Israel’s neighbours (eg Ashdod) to witness the calamity that would befall Israel. Israel had sinned for so long that God could no longer hold back discipline. Continued disobedience breeds forgetfulness. Likewise, if one wavers in discipline, no one will be sure of the rules and soon they will be forgotten Our God is a just God. He will discipline His own people first (see 1 Peter 4:17) but the ungodly should not gloat or condemn those being disciplined. They should observe and learn. “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1 Peter 4:18). When reading the Bible, we too should not form a judgmental attitude towards Israel but should watch and learn what God is teaching us. Just like manuals that teach us how to work our gadgets properly, the Bible contains instructions and many examples on how to lead our lives. What lesson will you learn from the Bible today?

4. God tempers judgment with mercy.

From verse 11, God revealed that He would use Syria to plunder Israel. When the plunder was over, only a small remnant would survive (see verse 12). God’s judgment would be severely devastating but it would be the lesser of the 2 evils. Israel’s actions would have led them to total destruction. God’s judgment allowed a small portion of Israel’s population to survive. The survivors would be able to learn from the mistakes of Israel and have the opportunity to live right before God. God tempered judgment with mercy. In the present world, we have experienced terrorism, wars, devastating hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis. While many have died, in every nation, small remnants have survived. If you are one of the few who has survived a calamity, what changes are you effecting to your life to set you right with God?

5. Do not trust the things of this world or else you will forget what God is about.

The things of this world will never satisfy you wholly and they will be insufficient as a shelter when a storm hits. The Israelites who were facing great difficulties would pray and hold on to the horns of the altar as a sign or symbol of their dependence on the god they were worshipping. In verse 14, God made clear that He would cut off the horns of the altar and tear down the winter and summer houses which provided shelter for the rich. What are you dependent on for your life security? Your career, money, a spouse, your child(ren)? Will you make the conscious decision to put your dependence on God instead?

6. God has the right to give commands in our lives because He knows the end from the beginning.

As our God is an all knowing God, He knows how to navigate history and life. We must put our trust in Him so that when storms arrive, we will be safe in His care and not be thrown about in the turbulence.

Prayer Response

Dear Lord, thank you for today’s lesson. Let me react to warnings sent from you in the right manner. Help me to repent of my wrong doings and live right before you. Enable me to trust in you completely as my all knowing, merciful and loving Father. I pray that I will not be dependant on anything other than you for my life security. Help me to trust that you will always provide for my needs and will be there to provide me with guidance through this life.

Devotional based on a sermon by Rev Joel Yong.