Hosea 13:7 – Amos 9:10
Overview
Today we continue to read through the minor prophets. They are not called “minor” because of their “lack” of importance. Instead, it is because these are short writings. As we learned from Hosea yesterday, Israel had all but abandoned their faith. God told the prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute. The Lord used the unfaithfulness of Gomer (his prostitute wife) to show Israel that they too were like prostitutes, selling themselves to the false religions and corrupt nations that have caused Israel to stray. Even though Israel was unfaithful, God still loved them and would accept them back if they would only repent.
Joel is the next minor prophet. He writes about a very specific disaster that had taken place in Judah. Swarms of Locust have ravished the land and eaten every bit of grain. Joel calls on the people to pray and repent so the Lord will remove the curse and begin to bless the people. It is a very short book.
Our reading concludes with Amos. He was not not really a prophet, but a shepherd. God showed him a series of visions. He spoke out against the injustice that was taking place within the society of Israel including the courts, political system and even the temple. He felt that the confidence the people had about their future was misdirected.
Amos the Prophet & Shepherd
Scripture Amos 4:9
9 “Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, destroying them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.
Observation
God is telling the people that He used various natural disasters to get the attention of the people so they would return to Him. Blight, mildew and locust were some of the many disasters that were used by God yet the people did not call out to God.
Application
God desires for all of us to turn to Him. Many times bad things will happen and challenge our faith. They will cause us to ask the big questions like “why am I hear?” and “what is my purpose?” It is those times when God wants our attention. Just like the Israelites, When bad things happen, God wants us to run to Him, not our idols and false religions.
Prayer
God help me to seek you for strength peace when I am presented with difficult circumstances.
Come To Me (written by Geoff Moore)
When life’s river
becomes a trickling stream
i’ve got to remember
he will make a way to find the sea
when the ground is dry and cracking
from the heat of my daily routine
that’s when a slow down and listen
and i hear my savior whispering
Come to me
come to me
when you are weary
when you are wandering
come to me, come to me
cast your cares upon the one
whose yoke is easy
and whose burden is light
When you feel like an island in a raging storm
no matter what your fear says
Jesus will never leave you alone
he sees, he hears, and he feels your pain
he will not pass you by
hear him now as he calls you by name
