Choose how to meet your God

On the surface, things were going well in the northern kingdom of Israel – the people were enjoying unprecedented economic and political prosperity, not experienced since the days of Solomon. The enemies on her borders were subdued for the moment, peace reigned.

When Amos stood up to bring the word of the Lord, I am sure he was applauded all the way, because he brought news of the Lord’s impending punishment for the age-old enemies of Israel – destruction was decreed over Damascus (capital city of Syria); Gaza (city in Philistia); Tyre; Edom; Ammon and Moab. I can just see those heads nodding in agreement and faces lighting up with glee as the places and nations of their adversaries were mentioned!

But then the atmosphere changed. Because Amos, the uneducated shepherd with no social standing whatsoever, announced the severe judgement that the Lord was bringing against Judah (southern kingdom) and Israel (northern kingdom).

As Amos started listing the reasons for the dire condemnation of the Lord, it transpired that, underneath the surface, things were not at all going well in the prosperous kingdoms of Israel. The most extreme social injustice was prevalent throughout society; self-indulgence and pleasure-seeking was the motivating force for all economic activity; financial gains were brought about through oppressing the poor and outright robbery and even selling people as slaves for trivial things like a pair of sandals. Gross idolatry took place, the practice of which included making use of temple prostitutes.

Against this backdrop, Amos calls out the words of the Lord to Israel quoted above, namely …prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” And in the next verse, God reminds them of Who their God is: Amos 4:13 For the LORD is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads on the heights of the earth. The LORD God of Heaven’s Armies is his name! The supreme Ruler over everything, the Creator of heavens and earth.

Israel had chosen, through her rejection of the God Who has always loved and protected her, to become His enemy, His adversary. And in this role Amos called on her to prepare to meet her God – and face the terrible judgement that she so righteously deserved.

Points to ponder: Jesus, through His death on the cross, bought for us (at a great price) the privilege of being called sons and daughters of the Most High God. If we choose Jesus as our Lord and Master, we can now confidently enter the Holy of Holies and meet with our Heavenly Father to experience His loving-kindness and mercy. We can, however, choose to reject and ignore Him and stay in wilful sin, and then meet God – only to experience His wrath and judgement. Which do you choose? To face God as His adversary, or as His child?