Amos 1-4

It's easy to read the prophecies of destruction in Amos 1-4 and distance ourselves temporally, culturally, and even morally. It was a different time, place, and people than anything we've ever known. Yet the Israelites of Amos's day were themselves distanced from those prophesied against elsewhere in the Old Testament, albeit to a lesser degree, but that didn't insulate them from sinning grievously and incurring God's wrath.

God, through Amos, makes this very point in Amos 4: 6-11. He has punished past generations for the same sins but this generation continues to make them. He has even punished THIS generation for sinning yet they have refused to take heed and turn from their ways.

How can we make maximum benefit of this passage? For starters, it's worth repeating that we are not any different from the Israelites to whom Amos preaches. Each of us was born with a corrupt nature and a sinful heart, and if we continue unrepentant then eternal death awaits us (Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23. etc.). 

Fortunately, repentance and forgiveness is available to us if we so choose. The annals of man's offenses against God are extensive volumes indeed, but the penalty for sin past, present, and future has already been paid. We just need to make the decision to turn from our sins and accept the free gift of redemption and eternal life in Christ Jesus.