Justice: A Study in AmosSample

What does it say?

God showed Amos a basket filled with ripe fruit, symbolizing Israel. There would be a famine of hearing the words of the Lord in Israel.

What does it mean?

God’s pleading with Israel to return to Him had ended. Like summer fruit ripe for eating, God’s people were ripe for judgment. Along with continued prosperity had come spiritual poverty. Throughout the nation’s history, God used famine and drought to draw His people back to Him. This famine would involve more than a lack of food – it would be a spiritual famine of hearing from God. His silence would replace God’s guidance and revelation of Himself through the prophets. Since they had rejected God’s Word, there would be no comforting words from Him.

How should I respond?

Sadly, there is a famine in our nation for the Word of God – not from lack of access, but from neglect. Even many of God’s people are biblically illiterate. As a result, our nation embraces and approves practices that are diametrically opposed to God’s Word. As a believer, rebellion against or neglect of God’s Word diminishes the desire to know and obey Him. How have you responded to God’s voice? Do you have a hunger for God’s Word and a thirst to know Him more? A commitment to read the Bible daily is the first step to coming out of a spiritual drought.