F O O T H O L D
READING
88 RESISTING GOD
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PRAY Make us open to your
teaching, sovereign Lord.
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READ Amos 3:9-4:13.
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THINK What is Amos'
accusation against the people of Israel?
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FOCUS The people had gone
through two completely opposite experiences,
but neither one had moved
them to seek God.
1. THERE HAD BEEN A PERIOD
OF AFFLUENCE (4:1-5). An age of
elegance, good living, and
ease. No shortages, no worries. Of
course, like most affluence,
it was won at the expense of others
less fortunate (1), but
verses 4 and 5 show how these well-to-do
people quietened their
consciences.
2. THERE HAD BEEN A PERIOD
OF HARDSHIP (4:6-10). As if God said,
'All right, let's try
something else!' In no time at all, trouble
struck. One would have
thought those callous people would have
realised how impossible it
was to live without God. But no;
hardship only made their
hearts harder, as we are told five
times.
There comes a point at which
men no longer have the power to
choose - GOD TAKES ACTION (12)!
The question is not whether
or not God is speaking - he is ALWAYS
speaking one way or another.
The question is - are we LISTENING?
How is God communicating
with you right now?
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PRAY Look again at 4:1.
Consider how valuable to God must be the poor
of the world, when such
punishment was to be unleashed on those
who exploited them. Turn
your thoughts into prayer.
