Day 10

Opposition to Amos’s Prophecy

from the Amos reading plan


Amos 7:1-17, Isaiah 40:6-8, 2 Timothy 4:1-5

BY Marnie Hammar

There’s a quiet battle going on in my house. As my middle son inches toward standing at six feet, he really longs to “beat” my oldest, who stands at 6’2”. The lines we’ve traced on the white doorway trim in between our kitchen and family room announce the progress in this battle.

I appreciate the objectivity of that door frame. We dutifully measure and, without comment, allow the marks on the trim to speak their truth—their pronouncement is clear.

In today’s passage, I’m reminded of the stalwart metric of that penciled-in door frame. But first, a confession: I don’t know about you, but I can catch myself categorizing God’s attributes. Without realizing it, I might see the God of love as positive and good while the God of justice feels negative and maybe scary.These verses show a collision of His love and justice, nestled in neighboring lines on the page. As God showed Amos his judgment for Israel’s wicked ways—first a vision of destruction by locusts and then of devastation by fire—Amos begged for forgiveness for God’s people. God relented. Twice. Even as His people rebelled, His faithful love showed.

He chose instead a measure of judgment, different but not unlike our white-trimmed kitchen door frame. He places a plumb line as a clear metric of Israel’s growth toward or away from God. The hitch is that the plumb line stays while God departs (Amos 7:8). The NKJV translates the same verse, “He will no longer pass by.” What’s worse? Enduring calamity and destruction as a consequence, or hearing God will turn His back completely? 

But God already knew what would happen next: Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, ignored Amos’s offered words. This supposed man of God opposes God and chooses his king. It’s heartbreaking. But it’s in Amos’s response to the priest’s threats where we find encouragement.

So Amos answered Amaziah, “I was not a prophet or the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman, and I took care of sycamore figs. But the LORD took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’” 
—Amos 7:14–15

Amos’s life was sheep and figs, yet he was willing to stop following the flocks to follow the Lord. Even as Israel turned, Amos stood tall against God’s plumb line, delivering His Word. No more than twenty years later, the attacks in this region began, with total ruin complete within forty years.

God’s plans always stand. His Word always remains.

You know, Amos wasn’t the first man God sent from the fields to share His Word, nor would he be the last. Soon He would send the Word to us all, another Shepherd. Our Savior, our plumb line, our friend.

May we hear when He speaks. May we go when He asks.

Post Comments (39)

39 thoughts on "Opposition to Amos’s Prophecy"

  1. Megan Russell says:

    May I hear when He speaks. May I go when He asks.

  2. Terri Baldwin says:

    God’s word is a plumb line of faith which must be upheld. It is not a political doctrine, not a justification for control, or a means to dictate how others should live.

  3. Terri Baldwin says:

    The great prophet Amos was given a vision of a plumb line which would become the symbol of the standard by which God’s people would need to live. It represents a standard by which the faithful need to live, and a measure from which divine judgment is gauged.

  4. Victoria E says:

    Amen Brooke P. Loved those verses especially. Heidi, praying for your passport and your trip, the Lord will make a way of it is His will! Ladies I also need prayer- I’ve been promoted at my job and have my first big conference as the lead for my team. Please pray for wisdom and strength and most of all that our work would help patients (I work in pharmaceutical industry)

  5. Claire B says:

    ♥️

  6. Indiana Elaine says:

    “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.”
    ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:3‬ ‭NLT. We just talked about this in our Bible study today. We truly are living in a post Christian era. Sarah D – congratulations on your offer. May God guide your decision. Rhonda J. I have a husband who does the same thing. I think it is getting worse with age. I can just ask a question and it sets him off. After 50+ years of marriage, I have learned to walk away and take the matter to God. Silence is worse for him than arguing. I plead with God to make him the man he should be and to change his heart. I think it is rooted in a domineering father. My husband would never consider counseling so I take him to the counselor who knows his heart. ‬‬

  7. Traci Gendron says:

    2 Timothy 4:3 & 5
    For The time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
    But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

    May we hear when He speaks and may we go when He asks.
    SEARCHING – I have been that person as well. I so so badly want to be on the “right” side of things. To be humble, forgiving, nonjudgemental, without pride. It is impossible without God in my life, yet I still mess up.

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