Lesson 561 Fishing

Study

Amos 2:9 ESV

I know I write about my dad frequently, but I won’t apologize (Insert Laugh). He was my ever present very Irish guru for the first twenty plus years of my life. He had a wonderful very clever sense of humor and he was just a tad bit taller than a leprechaun.

Seriously though I remember him sitting in his chair reading his old Bible every time he had a chance yo sit down. He did close his Bible when “Gunsmoke” was on television. Since Gunsmoke first aired in Black and white version I was watching it as I toddled around the room chasing our cocker spaniel pup.

When I was older and I didn’t understand something I read in the Bible I would go to him for the answer.

I do not remember him giving me the answer. Ever. What I remember is him asking me a question and telling me to think about the question and to pray about it asking God to show me the way.

When I was young that frustrated me. But by the time I was in junior high I came to realize he had been giving me a great gift. I went to him asking for a fish and instead of giving me a fish, he taught me how to fish.

Today I’m fishing in Amos 2:9, “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars and who was as strong as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath.”

Fishing today is a bit different nearly 70 years later. While the internet offers great resources for answers is does not replace the gift of the Spirit of the living God. There’s noting on earth quite like praying and listening for the movement of the Spirit.

God’s reminder in Amos 2:9 begins with וְאָ֨נֹכִ֜י pronounced wə·’ā·nō·ḵî. It literally means, ‘and yet’ (just like the translation says). I might be obliged to pass that over, but because me da urged me to listed for the movement of the Spirit, I’m gonna sit right here. And yet tells us eons. It’s a reminder from God to His chosen people. And yet is just like God holding up His hand or putting His hand on my shoulder. It reminds us to ‘listen up’. We remember that God was speaking to Amos about Judah. His own Judah that God had very special plans for in the future (in Bethlehem of Judah). God was saying ‘Listen up Judah’ I have plans for you and you’d better listen and get ready. .

I have destroyed the Amorite. Oh and by the way they were as tall as the cedars. They were as strong as the Oak.

But…I am stronger. Nothing is impossible for me (Luke 1:37).

God went on to tell Amos, He didn’t just knock down trees…He destroyed the fruit.

He didn’t just destroy the fruit, he killed the roots. God meant business here.

God had plans, real plans for Judah and they needed to listen and heed the warning. I AM power.

If you (Judah) persist in your sinful ways, you will be destroyed. God loved Judah and had great plans for Judah but God also knew they were on a path that led to destruction. God could not get them from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ if they chose the path of sin. Ultimately this was about a choice Judah had to make. Was Judah with God?

Would Judah be with God when the Holy Night came? Or would God have to choose another town…

About God, Deborah

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