(REFLECTIONS ON Amos 7:1-6)

God’s judgment was coming down upon Israel in the form of a locust-swarm and an all-consuming fire, and Amos twice interceded for them.

2 And it came about, when it had finished eating the vegetation of the land, that I said,
“Lord God, please pardon!
How can Jacob stand,
For he is small?”
3 The Lord changed His mind about this. “It shall not be,” said the Lord.

5 Then I said,
“Lord God, please stop!
How can Jacob stand, for he is small?”
6 The Lord changed His mind about this.
“This too shall not be,” said the Lord God.

Are we reminded of the POWER of prayer? Amos prayed, please pardon, and please stop! and the Lord changed His mind about this, saying, “It shall not be.”

Yes, there is POWER in prayer! Do we believe it? Do we want to believe it? Then let us pray! Let us pray for the world, God’s creation, His land, our families, and our lives. Pray because there is POWER in prayer, because we are praying to the Lord of all creation.

Let us also pray to the Lord God, understanding that prayer isn’t about our power, our wisdom, and our abilities, but it is a cry out to the Lord for mercy.

Do we understand how great is the God that we pray to is? He can pour out judgment, but He can also say, “It shall not be” to His own judgment. No, the Lord changed His mind doesn’t mean that God is wishy washy, or that God is unstable, inconsistent, or unreliable, but rather meaning that God is Lord over ALL.

God is Lord over judgment and Lord over mercy. That He changed His mind means that the Lord has all power and authority in His hand. The Lord can proclaim judgment, but He is also the one that can say, “It shall not be.”

Just like Israel (referred to as Jacob in today’s passage) we are small, and we cannot stand on our own. Let us then receive His mercy, pray for His mercy, and walk in His mercy through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Amos 7