“The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?”
(Amos 3:8, ESV)
In the days of the prophet Amos, the people of the Bible lands were sinning against the Lord. Gilead, Israel, Edom, Tyre, Judah, the Philistines and more… were doing evil in the sight of our God. The Philistines were trading slaves with Edom (Amos 1:9-10). Edom was also warring against its neighbors, (Amos 1:11-12). Even heinous crimes like the killing of pregnant women were discussed. Israel and Judah were guilty of apostasy and the worship of other gods. They forsook the laws of God (Amos 2:4-5). With the calling of the prophet Amos, God had finally had enough of all the sinning and evil.
In our scripture for today, the newly called Amos proclaims, “The Lion has roared; who will not fear?” (Amos 3:8). These words may sound like they are speaking of the animal, the lion. However, Amos is using the Lion as a euphemism for the Lord God. God roared at the sin of the people in the Bible lands. So, “who will not fear”? God was tired of the evil. People needed to wake up.
Even today, if the lion roars in the middle of the night, African people know to be careful. They need to be aware of the presence of the lion. The lion could wipe out a whole village if enraged or overcome with an illness. The roaring lion, ready to attack, still brings fear upon those who live close enough to hear the roar. When the roar sounds, people remain alert to the danger.
In the same way, when God’s anger is piqued, people need to take notice. When God shouts in anger to the prophets, the faithful should heed the warning. Doom is to follow. Judgment is coming. God’s wrath is about to break forth. At the moment when Amos uttered his warning of the lion roaring, he also clarified his words with the sentence, “The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?” Amos was making it clear that God had spoken of coming judgment. It was time for those with the gift of prophecy to open up with God’s warning to the people. If they did not prophesy God’s warning, the prophets too would be held liable on the day of judgment.
It is important to note that throughout time, God has roared at crucial moments. God always warned the nations and prophets of impending judgment. Some heeded the warnings. Some did not. The Old Testament is full of warnings from prophets like Nathan and Jeremiah and Isaiah. Each prophet brought the word of God to the people of the earth. Often, the prophets were able to correct the sin of the people. The word of God in the voice of the prophet brought needed repentance and mercy. However, all too frequently the people of the earth did not listen. They did not heed the roaring lion. They ignored the word of God.
In the days of Noah, God sent a warning that all the earth would suffer for their grievous sins. Very few listened. The ark was built all the while the warnings were issued. Instead of repenting, the people of the earth mocked Noah and cursed God. The result? Death in a massive scale by flood. Only Noah and his family were spared.
In the days of Jeremiah, God roared a warning to Judah and Jerusalem that their sins were many. Instead of listening, the religious and political leaders put Jeremiah in stocks and led him away to Egypt. The result? The walls of Jerusalem were torn down by Babylonian armies. The Temple was destroyed. Thousands died in Judah. Many more were exiled and taken into captivity. Jeremiah was spared.
If you ignore God’s roar, disastrous things happen. Even prophets and religious people like you need to take notice. If you don’t prophesy (Amos 3:8), God will hold you accountable. If you don’t pass on God’s warning against sin, you will be held accountable. If you don’t share God’s warnings, you may perish.
When evil comes and God begins to roar, it is important to notice the warning signs. Then, when you sense God’s impending judgment, it is crucial you prophesy. You need to share God’s message and heed God’s voice.
William Pickerill was telegraph operator at Mineral Point. His station was in the path of the great Johnstown Flood of 1889. When Pickerell saw the rising flood waters, he shouted to train engineer, John Hess, “The dam has broken—clear out or you’ll be washed off the tracks!” Hess heeded the warning cry and blew his engine’s whistle full force as he raced through town. He took the engine close to his home and left the train whistle blowing as a warning of the coming flood. Then, Hess rescued his family by taking them up a nearby tall hill. The engine whistle blew and blew its warning. Some heeded the warning. Some did not. Even when the waters rose high enough to drown the engine and its whistle, some did not take notice. One man was known to say that he was bothered by all the noise and fuss of the train whistle. He drowned moments later. Some heeded the train whistle and fled up the hills surrounding the town. Many, many died that day in the ensuing flood waters. (as told by Richard O’Connor, Johnstown: The Day the Dam Broke)
After the flood waters receded, many people thanked Pickerill and Hess for their actions. Hundreds of lives were saved by the actions of those who brought salvation through shouts of warning.
There will come a day when God gives you a warning. In that day, don’t remain silent. Share God’s word. Shout out what God is telling you. Don’t ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to you. Lives hang in the balance.
Do you not realize how precious is your relationship with God? Do you not realize that people can be saved by your repeating God’s warnings? When God shows you what is coming, it is not your job to please others, act civilized, and hold your tongue. Even the prophet Amos was criticized for the indecency of speaking out publicly!
Today, the prophet Amos is remembered for his courageous preaching. Will you also be remembered for your timely warnings about God’s roar in the days to come?
In our scripture for today, the newly called Amos proclaims, “The Lion has roared; who will not fear?” (Amos 3:8). These words may sound like they are speaking of the animal, the lion. However, Amos is using the Lion as a euphemism for the Lord God. God roared at the sin of the people in the Bible lands. So, “who will not fear”? God was tired of the evil. People needed to wake up.
Even today, if the lion roars in the middle of the night, African people know to be careful. They need to be aware of the presence of the lion. The lion could wipe out a whole village if enraged or overcome with an illness. The roaring lion, ready to attack, still brings fear upon those who live close enough to hear the roar. When the roar sounds, people remain alert to the danger.
In the same way, when God’s anger is piqued, people need to take notice. When God shouts in anger to the prophets, the faithful should heed the warning. Doom is to follow. Judgment is coming. God’s wrath is about to break forth. At the moment when Amos uttered his warning of the lion roaring, he also clarified his words with the sentence, “The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?” Amos was making it clear that God had spoken of coming judgment. It was time for those with the gift of prophecy to open up with God’s warning to the people. If they did not prophesy God’s warning, the prophets too would be held liable on the day of judgment.
It is important to note that throughout time, God has roared at crucial moments. God always warned the nations and prophets of impending judgment. Some heeded the warnings. Some did not. The Old Testament is full of warnings from prophets like Nathan and Jeremiah and Isaiah. Each prophet brought the word of God to the people of the earth. Often, the prophets were able to correct the sin of the people. The word of God in the voice of the prophet brought needed repentance and mercy. However, all too frequently the people of the earth did not listen. They did not heed the roaring lion. They ignored the word of God.
In the days of Noah, God sent a warning that all the earth would suffer for their grievous sins. Very few listened. The ark was built all the while the warnings were issued. Instead of repenting, the people of the earth mocked Noah and cursed God. The result? Death in a massive scale by flood. Only Noah and his family were spared.
In the days of Jeremiah, God roared a warning to Judah and Jerusalem that their sins were many. Instead of listening, the religious and political leaders put Jeremiah in stocks and led him away to Egypt. The result? The walls of Jerusalem were torn down by Babylonian armies. The Temple was destroyed. Thousands died in Judah. Many more were exiled and taken into captivity. Jeremiah was spared.
If you ignore God’s roar, disastrous things happen. Even prophets and religious people like you need to take notice. If you don’t prophesy (Amos 3:8), God will hold you accountable. If you don’t pass on God’s warning against sin, you will be held accountable. If you don’t share God’s warnings, you may perish.
When evil comes and God begins to roar, it is important to notice the warning signs. Then, when you sense God’s impending judgment, it is crucial you prophesy. You need to share God’s message and heed God’s voice.
William Pickerill was telegraph operator at Mineral Point. His station was in the path of the great Johnstown Flood of 1889. When Pickerell saw the rising flood waters, he shouted to train engineer, John Hess, “The dam has broken—clear out or you’ll be washed off the tracks!” Hess heeded the warning cry and blew his engine’s whistle full force as he raced through town. He took the engine close to his home and left the train whistle blowing as a warning of the coming flood. Then, Hess rescued his family by taking them up a nearby tall hill. The engine whistle blew and blew its warning. Some heeded the warning. Some did not. Even when the waters rose high enough to drown the engine and its whistle, some did not take notice. One man was known to say that he was bothered by all the noise and fuss of the train whistle. He drowned moments later. Some heeded the train whistle and fled up the hills surrounding the town. Many, many died that day in the ensuing flood waters. (as told by Richard O’Connor, Johnstown: The Day the Dam Broke)
After the flood waters receded, many people thanked Pickerill and Hess for their actions. Hundreds of lives were saved by the actions of those who brought salvation through shouts of warning.
There will come a day when God gives you a warning. In that day, don’t remain silent. Share God’s word. Shout out what God is telling you. Don’t ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to you. Lives hang in the balance.
Do you not realize how precious is your relationship with God? Do you not realize that people can be saved by your repeating God’s warnings? When God shows you what is coming, it is not your job to please others, act civilized, and hold your tongue. Even the prophet Amos was criticized for the indecency of speaking out publicly!
Today, the prophet Amos is remembered for his courageous preaching. Will you also be remembered for your timely warnings about God’s roar in the days to come?
The Uplifting video for today is a meditation about not ignoring God's warnings... click below