The political, social, moral and spiritual climate is in decline. There is divisive political intrigue. Enemies surround the country. Different factions within the country support different allies for protection. Leaders, as well as most people, observe religious rites of the country’s God, but they really worship other gods.
At that time, men received a message from God. Speak my Word to the people and to the leaders, God said. But the leaders didn’t believe these men. They thought that they were just mentally unbalanced critics. Let’s either ignore them or kill them, they thought.
Although this almost describes the current state of affairs in the United States (and many other countries), this was Israel in the 8th Century BC. It had been under the protection of Assyria. But Assyria began to look weakened. Some in the country sought alliances with other countries. None sought reliance on their national God–Yahweh.
I’ve been reading the “minor” prophets recently. Imagine being one of these men. I just finished Amos and will be teaching on him later today. He was a farmer. He had flocks and fig trees. Israel’s king–Jeroboam II–had led the country for 40 years in peace and prosperity. But the wealthy class, ever insecure in their wealth, had a new leader who wished to replace Jeroboam. Amos came and spoke against both.
Talk about living in faith amidst fear. First, Amos ticked off both major political forces as well as the wealthy class. Not the sort of people to have as enemies. Then he explained God’s word that if they all didn’t change their ways that the country would be invaded, cities destroyed, people either killed or shipped off into slavery. And Amos would be one of those people!
Amos, like his contemporary prophets such as Hosea, lived in faith. He trusted God to see him through adversity. The people, well, they were living in fear. They had too much to lose, it seems. So they sought external protection. We know the end of the story–it didn’t work.
When you see that sort of faith, you wonder how you measure up. It doesn’t mean to be merely a critic. Anyone can do that–and they do. But living this way means living God’s Word and explaining it to others. Faith is an action verb, not adherence to a creed.
Lent is an excellent time to take 5minutes to 30 minutes every morning and reflect on whether your actions reflect a living in faith or living in fear. You can decide to walk with and trust in God.
Faith Venture 
Leave a comment