Listening?

Bible Study

Amos 2:13-16 ESV

If you’ve ever had a teacher that was a really good teacher who taught well, you might understand the delicate balance that existed between the prophets and the children of God in Israel.

That teacher would be one who taught and reminded what they taught more than two or three times. The result of the action of the lesson that was taught was that even if there were children who didn’t remember after hearing it just once, they had a better chance of remembering it after the second or third time.

In Amos 2:13-16 the word of the Lord from the Prophet who spoke and then reminded them of the word was, “Behold, I will press you down in your place, as a cart full of sheaves presses down.  Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not retain his strength, nor shall the mighty save his life; he who handles the bow shall not stand, and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself, nor shall he who rides the horse save his life; and he who is stout of heart among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day,” declares the Lord.”

There wasn’t much ground the Prophet didn’t cover for the children in regard to Israel moving forward. Plus, we know God knew who was actually listening and who was pretending to listen.

In other words, because they didn’t listen and follow and listen and follow they would not be able to advance forward. They had been told. God was saying they were running in place so they would not advance to the next level.

In addition to that God knew the swift would not fly.

The strong would lose their strength.

The mighty would not save his own life.

There wasn’t a bowman who could stand to shoot the bow.

The swift runner would not be able to run.

The ‘stout of heart’ or the brave would BE and feel naked.

The ultimate problem God was faced with is that even the brightest and the best among them refused to listen. God had tried to give them a good path forward but they were obstinate with their listening.

So, what could God do?

When you have children who are determined to have their own way how can you convince them to listen to “wisdom” when you know they are only pretending to listen.

You know their way, will lead to destruction and not life. You want to give life to your children but they refuse to receive it.

God wants to give life. But who is listening?

deborah@acrazyjourney.com