SCRIPTURE: Amos 1:1-5:17
“When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?” (Amos 3:6)
When a judge sends a murderer to prison, is the judge to blame?
Yes, the judge directs (causes) the punishment, but they are not to blame.
The consequences of murder are the blame of the murderer, not the judge.
Amos is making it clear that leaving God and leaving God’s way is disastrous.
Think of the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15).
The father is not to blame for the son’s eventual suffering, but the father did allow it.
The father could have run after the son to bail him out, to protect him.
Instead the father gives the son freedom to choose, and this leads to disaster.
The hope of the father is that the son will come to their senses (i.e. repent, change their mind).
God wants us to see that cruelty and immorality and arrogance and lust are disastrous.
Living any way but God’s way will result in misery and despair.
But God does not force us, He allows us to learn the hard way, if we choose it.
Through it all, the Father is ready to restore us, to help us… when we come to our senses.
The hope of prison for the murderer is rehabilitation (literally ‘at home again’)
God deeply wants His children at home with Him… but He will not force us.
And He will allow us to see the disaster of life without Him… that we might come to our senses.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, You endured the disaster Yourself on the cross, so that I would come to my senses and come home to You. Help us to see how serious sin is, and how desperately we need You.
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Observation/Application
The Lord sees what His people are doing. God is always with His people. But when they do not live His Way, go contrary to His Word, He visits His people with judgement – disciplining His children. The people refused to see what the Lord God had done and went their own way doing what was right in their own eyes. Eyes the people had but did not see nor did they hear His Word.
How do I see God’s hand in my life. In adversity, do I see Him. Do I see the Lord directing my way through the happenings in my life? I need to hear His Word for me and that is only a possibility when in reality I seek Him daily. I must walk with my risen Saviour daily. I must be able to see His faithfulness always.
Come to the Savior now,
He gently calleth thee;
In true repentance bow,
Before Him bend the knee;
He waiteth to bestow
Salvation, peace, and love,
True joy on earth below,
A home in Heav’n above.
Come to the Savior now,
Ye who have wandered far;
Renew your solemn vow,
For His by right you are;
Come, like poor wand’ring sheep
Returning to His fold;
His arm will safely keep,
His love will ne’er grow cold.
Come to the Savior, all,
Whate’er your burdens be;
Hear now His loving call,
“Cast all your care on Me.”
Come, and for ev’ry grief
In Jesus you will find
A sure and safe relief,
A loving Friend and kind.