Amos

Amos 4: God calls Israel to face Him

Begin in prayer

Before we read of Israel refusing to return to God, let us ask Him for hearts that hear. Please bring your family before the Maker of the mountains and ask Him to show us Christ.

Don’t you fear me?’ says Yahweh ‘Won’t you tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it can’t pass it? and though its waves toss themselves, yet they can’t prevail; though they roar, yet they can’t pass over it.’

Jeremiah 5:22

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us understand the judgment Israel faced. Help us see Jesus, the Saviour we need before You, and give us hearts ready to leave sin. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God addresses the wealthy women of Samaria who oppress the poor and demand drinks from their husbands. He swears by His holiness that they will be taken away with hooks. Their sacrifices at Bethel and Gilgal go together with sin and boasting. God had withheld bread and rain, struck their crops, and sent plagues and the sword. He had overthrown some of them, yet they had not returned to Him. Now Israel must prepare to meet the God who forms the mountains and creates the wind.

As you read Amos 4, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God judges Israel’s sin, and Israel must face the God who made the mountains.

The people enjoy their drinks and boast about their offerings, while the needy are being crushed. God’s holiness means that He will judge this life of oppression. Calling the women “cows of Bashan” compares their ease to well fed cattle from a fertile region. His command to go to Bethel and sin shows the wickedness of their worship. It is a sharp rebuke, giving them no permission to sin. The words “cleanness of teeth” mean hunger, because there was no bread to eat. God identifies Himself as the One who sent each judgment, and five times He says they have not returned. Their need is greater than relief from hardship because they need hearts turned back to Him. The Creator they have refused will now meet them in judgment.

How does Amos 4 show us that God judges Israel’s sin, and Israel must face the God who made the mountains?

God’s holiness brings worship joined to cruelty to light.

The women crush the needy while demanding drinks from their husbands (verse 1). God swears by His holiness that captivity will follow. Israel also brags about free will offerings, doing what pleases themselves (verse 5). Bringing gifts to God cannot make oppression right.

God sent repeated judgments, yet Israel did not return.

God withheld rain, struck gardens and vineyards, and sent plagues like those of Egypt (verses 7 to 10). He killed young men with the sword, carried away horses, and overthrew some of the people. The repeated words “yet you haven’t returned to me” show their refusal. Hardship alone had not made their hearts love God.

God the Creator will meet Israel in judgment.

“Prepare to meet your God, Israel” follows the account of their continued refusal (verse 12). This is a summons to face Him. He forms mountains, creates wind, and makes the morning darkness. The One who rules these things cannot be controlled by the offerings Israel boasts about. Only in Jesus can a sinner meet this God and not be afraid.

Memorise

Therefore thus will I do to you, Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel.

Amos 4:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where am I refusing God’s correction and resisting Jesus?

Five times God says, “yet you haven’t returned to me”. Lack of bread, withheld rain and plagues had not brought Israel back. Now He commands, “prepare to meet your God, Israel”. They must face the One who forms the mountains and creates the wind.

We cannot face this holy God by showing Him our good deeds. Our sin calls for judgment. On the cross Jesus met God’s judgment, bearing what His people’s sins deserved. He paid for their sins in full, so no debt is left for them to pay. He rose from the grave, victorious over death.

Do not use worship to hide a heart that refuses God. Turn from your sin and place your trust in Jesus. The one who comes to Christ in faith receives forgiveness. The God whose power makes us tremble gives refuge in His risen Son.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God Himself sent these judgments, and Israel still refused to return to Him. The hooks and deaths in verses 2 and 10 need gentle words from you, with the warning kept at full weight. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that His Son is the refuge sinners need, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, and may speak briefly if they wish.

seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6

Lord God, You made the mountains and the wind. Thank You for giving refuge in Jesus to those who come to Him. Please help each of us repent and trust Him. Teach us to confess sin instead of hiding it behind worship, and help us obey Your Word this week. Amen.