I Know Things

Bible Study

Amos 4:11-13 ESV

Amos 4:12 MSG

Since we know that God is love it’s no surprise that every decision made is completed in and by love. That is a given. When God warns us not to go here or there it’s because going here or there will harm us in some way.

Every decision God made to and for God’s chosen Israel was chosen because it was ultimately best for them.

In Amos 4:11-13 we are told, “I overthrew some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning; yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord.

“Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth—the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!”

One of the essential aspects of being a parent of a teenager is establishing trust between the child and the parent. I learned that as a general rule I had 10…maybe 12 years at best to establish a relationship with the child. Once they reached 13 years if that trust hadn’t been established I knew we would be in for tough years ahead if they didn’t trust me.

God knows that for us today and God knew it for Israel then.

Trust between God and a child is essential.

In Amos 4:11 God is reminding Israel back to the time when Sodom and Gomorrah and their wicked condition. From Genesis 19 we know Lot listened but Lot’s wife did not listen. Lot survived.

The Prophet Amos was telling Israel by example that if the listen and obey they will be spared…but up to that moment they weren’t listening. Let’s pretend Israel was a defiant young teenager who had been told time and again they needed to listen and obey. God knew if they did not trust him there would come a time when they could not be spared.

In the text verse 12 God flatly told Israel everything done to Israel was FOR Israel but they were in danger because they were not listening. Amos 4:12 from The Message says, “All this I have done to you, Israel, and this is why I have done it.Time’s up, O Israel! Prepare to meet your God!”

Because God loved Israel He wanted to spare them but their time was up. God had begged and was begging that they would return to God.

I would have said to my children at this point, “I AM your Mother. I carried you in my womb. I gave birth to you and cared for all of your needs. Now…I need you to listen to me. I need you to trust me. That’s what God was saying in verse 13. I AM God and I know things.

I did say that to my children. I wasn’t being mean or controlling. I knew the path they were on was not a good idea. I knew if they chose not to listen they would be hurt. And so it was with Israel God. God was saying, I KNOW things. Out of love…God spoke. God knew.

Deborah @acrazyjourney.com