Would you prefer to hear some good news or bad news? Me too.
We crave good news. But when bad news is delivered, we tend to obsess over it, spiraling into anxiety, or we might ignore the uncomfortable truth. Perhaps things have been going well so far! Or maybe you’ve noticed the numbing effect that comes from being inundated and manipulated by constant bad news.
The Prophet Amos came to Israel, God’s people, to tell them the bad news that God was allowing them to go into exile, and it wouldn’t be pretty. Frankly, the words in this chapter are not ones anyone would ever want said to them or about them. So, while it might be tempting to think these words only apply to the people of Amos’ time, they are rather relatable in our day and age.
For example, do any of the following sound like people in our culture today?
- Not only have wealth but trust their wealth and possessions more than the God who created them
- Depend on their own strengths and abilities with no need to acknowledge God’s role in their lives
- Lavishly enjoy their riches and comforts without any attention to injustice or the consequences of their luxuries
- Push away every thought of coming disaster
- Sing trivial songs and fancy themselves to be great
- Drink wine by the bowlful
Pride comes before the fall. But imagine what might have happened if Israel had taken the tough truth to heart and turned to God again! Even when the consequences came to pass, their God had not passed them up. In fact, he would show up to save the very people who arrogantly rejected and ignored him. He showed up humbly in a manger. He died a criminal’s death on a cross. He bore our bad news and gave us the Good News we can trust in.
Questions for reflection:
1. Imagine God sent a prophet to warn you about where your current direction in life is taking you. What might the prophet say?
2. What has kept you from facing bad news? What would happen if you embraced the bad news and the good news of God’s salvation at the same time?