Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
Amos, possibly the first of the writing prophets, was a shepherd and farmer called to prophesy during the reigns of Uzziah (792–740 b.c.) in the southern kingdom and Jeroboam II (793–753) in the north. During this time both kingdoms enjoyed political stability, which in turn brought prosperity. It was also a time of idolatry, extravagance, and corruption. The rich and powerful were oppressing the poor. Amos denounced the people of Israel for their apostasy and social injustice and warned them that disaster would fall upon them for breaking the covenant. He urged them to leave the hypocrisy of their “solemn assemblies” (5:21) and instead to “let justice roll down like waters” (v. 24). Nevertheless, said Amos, God would remember his covenant with Israel and would restore a faithful remnant.
Let’s see what God will say to us through Amos. Let our ears be open and our hearts tender to His Word. In three weeks or less, we will start to see the impact of Covid 19. It will surely come in and through the US in separate waves, peaking state by state as it progresses day by day, week by week, and month by month. Its effects will be seen and felt throughout our nation unless God alone puts an end to it. As much as I want this to be wrong about the pending effects, how can it be wrong when it is certainly from the very hands of our sovereign God? We do well to learn what it means to repent and return to God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. Far too long, we have been complacent and neglectful of Him and His Word. It is time for us to take our eyes off self, self-reliance, government reliance, and turn to God. As a nation, we have tolerated pushing God out of honor, glory, praise, and worship due Him. We have allowed ourselves to be drawn into false beliefs that we can live worldly lives and somehow think this is fully and humbly surrender to God with a whole heart, mind, and soul service to Him. When in the past has all of the earth had so much technology and medical understanding? Never and yet Covid 19 advances. I fear we are looking for man to bring us out of this tragic global pandemic. For sure God can give man understanding in and how to defeat it. Yet when we give our reliance to man rather than the Author of all there is, we void ourselves of the help we need from God alone.
Seek and desire God’s intervention, repent and return to Him, and worship, praise and fully trust in Him alone.