Check out the Reading Plan we’ve put together for the 12 Minor Prophets! We hope you’ll continue to read along with us.
Kristina Wrobleski: Amos
When I read Amos, it is clear that God is fed up with His people. He is repetitive in mentioning the wrong done by various people groups, but also specific on the sins of the different regions. He mentions in Amos 4:6 all the things He did to try and get their attention, and yet they still turn away from Him. God then reminds the people of His power and might and seems to almost beg them to “Come back to the Lord and live!” The people ultimately do not choose Him and He says He is bringing a “Mighty flood of justice!”
I am an Enneagram 8, so my main motivator that drives most of my decisions in life is to bring justice and fairness to those who are overlooked by our society and trampled upon. I understand and connect to this mighty God of justice as I know He has put that calling for justice within me so strongly.
But, I need to not just see the “mighty flood of justice” part of God, but also see how He has given His people many chances. He gives them warnings and examples of what is to come. He is patient for many years… until He isn’t. I need to learn from God in the giving grace part and offering a fair enough time for change before reigning down the hammer of justice. I need to remember that if the Lord who…
… shaped the mountains (Amos 4:13)
… stirs up the winds
… turns the light of dawn into darkness
… treads on the heights of earth
… created the stars (Amos 5:8)
… can be patient and attempt to turn people from their harmful ways, why can I not do the same? Why do I think that justice can only look one way and not see what needs to come before justice?
When I was younger, I was taught that the God of the Old Testament was scary and loud and mean, and the God of the New Testament is forgiving and kind and gentle. But God is ALL of those things ALWAYS. He is this beautiful mix of justice AND grace. He is this seemingly contradictory concoction of strong and healthy boundaries and gentleness.
