Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ - Amos 7:14-15
"Amos addresses Israel's 2 primary sins: 1) an absence of true worship, and 2) a lack of justice. In the midst of their ritualistic performance of worship, they were not purusing the Lord with their hearts (4: 4, 5; 5:4-6) nor following His standard of justice with their neighbors (5:10-13; 6:12). This apostasy, evidenced by continual, wilful rejection of the prophetic message of Amos, is promised divine judgement. Because of His covenant, however, the Lord will not abandon Israel all together, but will bring future restoration to the righteous remnant (9:7-15)." - (John MacArthur)
Amos was God's chosen vessel to communicate with His people. Humanly speaking, he was not the "best candidate" for the job; he was from the hills with no "pedigree" of prophets to go before him and no background of leadership. When Amaziah came against him with accusations and demands that he leave and take his prophecies with him, Amos could have simply agreed and admitted defeat. He wasn't meant to be a prophet anyway. But Amos didn't back down; he acknowledged to Amaziah that he was a herdsman, a farmer, but the LORD took him. He had the only backing necessary; he was doing the Lord's work.
God has a way of doing this doesn't He? Oftentimes we are settled in our ways, contentedly doing life when God takes us and calls on us for something more. It can be unknown; it can be intimidating or even seem impossible. Our job is to respond with willing obedience and confidence in the knowledge of His calling. When God calls He enables.
No comments:
Post a Comment