He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Amos 9:1-10

For the first time God makes a distinction between those who are believers and those who are sinners. As we see in Romans 3:23, all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. We also see that those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. For the Israelites, some remained faithful to God, and He notices.

Again, God refers to the death of those who will seek refuge from the Assyrians in the temple at Bethel (see also Amos 8:3). God also clarifies the places of safety – there are not any. God would not allow any who hid from their punishment to remain alive. They could hide in caves, up on the mountains, under the sea, and in the places of exile. God would not leave a stone unturned. They would be found and punished with death for their disobedience and sin.

God reminds them of His central power over all creation. He can melt it with a touch. He can raise the land or cause it to sink as easily as the flood waters of the Nile. He set His throne above all thrones and the earth remains as its foundation. God can cause great floods with a spoken word. His name is the Lord God Almighty!

"Are not you Israelites the same to me as the Cushites?" declares the LORD. Amos 9:7 (NIV)

God removed His covenant from Israel. They were not any better than the common pagan nation. God removes and moves whole nations. Israel would face the upheaval He determines. Yet God would spare the lives of the faithful. They would find refuge from His anger. Death awaited the sinners, especially for those who believed they were out of harm’s way.

Arrogance or a haughty spirit grows from selfish pride. Israel who God owed them everything had fallen into the depths of pride’s clutches. Their stuck-up spirit was bringing them down. God sifts through selfish pride and allows people to fall on their faces. Unfortunately, our society has given a pass to many who need to bear the full brunt of selfishness. When will we ever learn?

• Are you safe from selfish pride? Where should we draw the line on being proud?
• What do you think about those who try to hide form God’s punishment?
• Have you thought about the name of the Lord lately?