Week 33 Amos 3
Amos asks seven questions.
They’re a bit vague and I skim them. Then I go back and sit mulling them over for a bit (using time I don’t really have).
Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?
Does a lion ever roar in a thicket without first finding a victim?
Does a young lion growl in its den without first catching its prey?
Does a bird ever get caught in a trap that has no bait?
Does a trap spring shut when there’s nothing to catch?
When the ram’s horn blows a warning shouldn’t the people be alarmed?
Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has planned it?
I decide that the point of the questions is that something happens because something happened.
People agree on the destination – they go
Prey is located – lions roar
Prey is killed – lions growl
No bait in the trap? – no birds caught
Bait in the trap? – birds are caught
Animals avoid the trap – nothing is caught
Alarms sound – people are warned.
So a first thing happens…and then a second.
After his questions Amos says: the Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to the prophets. It occurs to me that that’s the point of the questions.
In general terms a Something #1 happens…then a Something #2 happens as a result.
But a critical part of the Two Somethings is that the Lord reveals his plans to the prophets…who convey them.
Note: quotes from Amos 3:3-7 (NLT)