20/08/11

The burden of God

JAmos 1:1 - The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

There is no Prophet in the Old Testament who has been introduced the way Amos is. In this scriptures Amos has been described as which tribe he came from, the kings which ruled during his time and also any important natural disaster which happened during his time.

From historic data it is found that this period was about 750BC and the earthquake was a magnitude 8 quake which still has its marks in the Dead Sea region. The Dead Sea transform fault likely ruptured along more than 400 kilometers as the ground shook violently for over 90 seconds!

This quake shook not only the structures but even the lives of the people of this region very much and is also mentioned in the book of Zachariah, reminding the people how they fled their houses when this quake happened.

The name Amos means burden and the tribe or was a member of ‘Tekoa' which means stockade and comes from the root word trumpet.

Amos was not born in a Prophet's family nor was considered an official prophet during his time but was an ordinary working man looking after Sycamore trees. This ordinary man was a man with a burden to prophesy and warn the people of God what the Lord has in store for them because they were not listening to Him.

This man prophesied about 12 prophesies and the most picturesque statements made by God. He in spirit was doing what he did in profession that was trimming the sycamore tree. The sycamore fruit was a favorite pastime for the Egyptian people who are the fruit along with bread and water. The fruit looks like figs and smells also like it but has a disgusting sweet taste. This tree was not loved by the Lord for what it symbolized; it was a bad example of the fig tree which symbolized God's people.

The Lord is telling us today He will select ordinary people like Amos and give them the burden to prophesy calamities which would shake the world if they do not listen to Him.

Our God is love but at the same time is no fool to be taken for granted. He is patient but at the same time proportional to His grace His patience holds. Let us wake up and listen to the Lord's call to change our lives and walk in His ways.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You are a Good God and since You do not want your children to be destroyed You chastise them at time. Sin in this world has been growing and growing and the time is come for your intervention before this sea overflows. Lord, we pray for your people that their eyes open and they listen to your warnings...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Amos 7:14 - Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:

Amos 7:15 - And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

Amos 2:13 - Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.

Amos 3:8 - The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

Amos 3:12 - Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.

Amos 8:11 - Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

Amos 8:12 - And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.


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