Learning from Others

Amos 2:4-5

4Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked.5So I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.”

When the neighbor kids got in trouble with their parents, well, that was bad. We would all scamper back to our own yards and hope things didn’t go too badly for our friends. The next level up was when my brother got in trouble and I had to witness the scene. Now not once did I see him spanked or punished. Not ever. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t. I just didn’t have to see it. But I heard about it. And sometimes I knew that I should be punished for the same thing but I don’t remember ever volunteering for said punishment. I may have felt badly for him, but I certainly didn’t want to be a part of the trouble!

Our Old Testament friends in the Israel have now heard warnings to all of their neighbors. God’s Words have been consistent and all encompassing. And they are hitting very close to home! Now God is speaking to Judah, the Southern Kingdom. In roughly 975 BC, the last of the great kings, King Solomon, died leaving his son, Rehoboam as king over God’s people. Sadly, an insurrection was mounted and the people of God divided into 2 kingdoms, the Southern Kingdom (Judah), ruled by Rehoboam, and the Northern Kingdom (Israel) ruled by Jeroboam. In the 2 verses we examine today, God’s words of warning are going to the Northern Kingdom’s closest neighbors and brothers, Judah. If ever there was a time to listen to what God was saying to someone else, this was the time. As you can see, the finger of God has been circling the people of Israel, and now it is coming alarmingly close to home!

God is very specific about His displeasure with the people of Judah. They have not kept His laws and they have allowed false gods to lead them. Surely the people of Israel could look at themselves and see similar if not exactly the same sin. And yet, they remain heedless. Of note is the fact that God is sovereign over ALL of the nations mentioned in this passage. He does not speak to only Israel and Judah. God has power and authority over all of the people of the earth, not just those who know Him as Lord.

How close to you does the finger of God have to come before you hear His voice? Are we able to look out over the global landscape and see God at work, for surely He is moving? It takes wisdom and discernment which can come only from the Holy Spirit. If you hear your brother being punished in the other room, does it impact you? Do you review your own life and behavior to see if your life and choices please a holy God? Maybe we would do well to let the Holy Spirit refine our hearing and ability to listen, heeding the warnings and admonitions we have received, either personally or by observation of others.

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