Amos 1-2

God is a patient and loving God.  If you would ever choose to turn your back on Him, He will wait like the father of the prodigal son for your return.  And when you return to him he will accept you back with loving, open arms. 

This is often the story that we are told about our God.  And it is true!  He is a loving, kind, and patient God.  But, He is also just and righteous and jealous and wrathful.  And when these characteristics of God present themselves… watch out! 

We come to the book of Amos.  Amos was a sheepherder of Tekoa (just south-east of Bethlehem; close to the Dead Sea) turned prophet during the time of king Uzziah of Judah and king Jeroboam of Israel.  If you recall, we read about them in 1 Kings.  I would recommend going back and reading about them if you have some time.  So, this book occurs smack dab in the middle of 1 Kings, and it is a book for telling the downfall of the neighboring provinces of Judah and Israel and you will notice the latter two are included in this prophecy.  Basically for all of the provinces the charge brought against them is the same: their sin has reached such a great height that God can no longer stay his hand of punishment.

At this point in Amos, God has not yet delivered this punishment, but He is using Amos to deliver the message of what is coming.  So, God warned the people of what was going to come if they did not turn from their evil ways.

For me, what I take away from these passages is that just as Amos was the great sheepherder, God is our great sheepherder.  God has done everything to get His people back to him, but sometimes the only thing that will get ones’ attention is tough love.  There have been times in my life where I know God loves me, but he does not spare me from the consequences of the choices that I have made.  From these consequences though, I have found a great depth of God that I am able to rest in during the storm.  God has proven to be a great comfort to me in those times.  It is important to remember that God may be the one that is allowing the storm to occur in your life, but He is also right alongside of you the whole time too – guiding you and loving you just as He has always done.