07/19/2024
Jean Morrison
Throughout generations, God calls ordinary men and women without formal training, lineage, or status to inspire, correct, and guide individuals and nations to fulfill His plan and purposes. Amos, a minor prophet in the Bible, was a man without formal training, lineage, or status, who God used to prophesy to the children of Israel during a time of economic prosperity and military success.
In Amos 7:14-15, Amos gives us a look into his humble beginnings when he says, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord took me from tending flock and said to me, ‘Go prophesy to my people Israel.”
The Bible tells us that God sent Amos to deliver a stern message to the people of Israel because of their involvement in idolatry and sinful practices despite the fact they knew — Jehovah — the one and only true God and His righteous ways. Amos 5:4-6 says that Amos delivered this message from the Lord. He said, “This is what the LORD says to Israel: ‘Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing. Seek the LORD and live, or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire; it will devour them, and Bethel will have no one to quench it.’”
The Israelites mistakenly believed they could mix a little of God’s law and still indulge in sinful practices and idolatry but they were mistaken. 2 Kings 17:7-23 revealed that the Israelites made false gods out of wood, stone, and metal, which eventually led to their moral corruption and eventual downfall. Amos’s message was clear: God’s chosen people would need to repent, turn from their evil practices, and start living a righteous life, or God would destroy them and their cities.
Amos 5:4-6 outlines four unshakeable points that are relevant for us today as children of the Most High:
1. When We Seek God’s Face, We Will Find God’s Grace: God’s invitation to “Seek me and live” calls for us all to continue to seek and be in a close relationship with Him. Seeking God is an intentional act that means we want to know, find, and look to Him as the source of every detail of our lives, not what he can do for us. When we do, God
promises us abundant grace and His favor to live a life pleasing to Him and reap blessings now and for all eternity.
2. We Do Not Find God in a Place, But In A Person: God’s message from Amos identified three cities — Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba —that represented places with historical significance to the nation of Israel. God mentions these cities in Amos 5:4-6 because they were centers of idolatry that contributed to Israel’s prosperity apart from God. As believers, God demands that true acts of worship involves seeking Him for provision and not looking to sacred locations or past traditions to provide for our needs.
3. We Do Not Find God in a Campaign, But In A Commitment: Gilgal, a place of military success, became a symbol of false security. This unshakable truth reminds us that our commitment to God, not our achievements or affiliations, defines our relationship with Him.
4. We Do Not Find God in Promises of People, But in Power from God: Beersheba, a place of great significance to Israel, became an evil place associated with corrupt judges in positions of power and authority. This unshakeable truth is another lesson that illustrates that as God. Only God’s power and promises bring true hope.
Amos’s warning is relevant to us as the body of Christ today. In times of blessing, we might allow sin to creep into our lives, thinking it won’t cause harm. But sin does matter because it leads to moral decay and separation from God. When we take our eyes, hearts, and minds away from Christ, we will be tempted to make idols of things and places instead of seeking Him. As Christ followers, we must intentionally pursue Him at all costs, by spending time praying and reading his Word. God isn’t interested in us checking off a box and moving on with our day. He desires us to worship and be in constant fellowship with Him.
Bottom Line:
Let’s remember that with God our lives will reflect hope. Without God, our lives will end in hopelessness and despair.
Weekly Challenge:
This week, start each day acknowledging your need for God and commit to seeking Him with all your heart, mind, and soul. Reflect on where you seek fulfillment in life. Are you looking to places, people, or achievements to take the place of God? If so, it’s time to shift your focus and priorities. Starting today, choose to realign yourself to seeking a deeper relationship with your loving Heavenly Father. When you do, your life will reflect His holiness and you will be careful not to practice willful sin. Remember, what you choose to focus on in this life will become your destination for all eternity, so seek God and live!
Want to dive deeper? Click below to watch Rev. Womble's message, "Seek God, Not Sin."
