Cause and Effect

Scripture: Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the Lord has spoken against you—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:

“You only have I chosen
    of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish you
    for all your sins.”

Do two walk together
    unless they have agreed to do so?
Does a lion roar in the thicket
    when it has no prey?
Does it growl in its den
    when it has caught nothing?
Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground
    when no bait is there?
Does a trap spring up from the ground
    if it has not caught anything?

Amos 3:1-5

 

Observation: The core of the message is clear - God is about to destroy Israel for the sins they have committed and the way they have turned away from the Lord. In this section, he outlines a very clear concept ... there is a direct connection between action and reaction, therefore there is a direction connection between their destruction and their evil ways. The fact they sinned and the prophesy that they will now be destroyed go hand in hand.

 

Application: Even in this passage of Amos, it is important to see that the Lord was patient with Israel. He chose them, he loved them, he nurtured them, and thus he is to punish them for their sins. He allowed a choice to be made, and then brings on the predicted result as he promised he would. In the various metaphors, in fact, the responses are signs of the previous actions - by a lion's actions it is known he made a kill, or by the behavior of travelers it is known they have talked, or by a reaction of a trap it is known something triggered it. And so by the punishment to be brought on Israel it is known that they sinned against the Lord.

 

Today's society rejects this cause and effect. They see escalating hatred and anger between nations, parties, races, ideologies, and religions, and don't recognize it at the result of some other action. I believe Amos would question our judgment ... if these things are occurring, there must be a cause. That cause is the erosion of faith and increasing rejection of Jesus, which leaves a vacuum of hope and love to be filled by anger, self worship, hatred, and various sins.

 

We see the signs - the lion is roaring - and yet many refuse to see the events for what they are. Our time is running out, and we must be urgent in our work of spreading the good news of Jesus.

 

Prayer: Come, lord Jesus! Amen.