DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GETTING MY ATTENTION

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GETTING MY ATTENTION

In Amos, chapter four, we find a phrase repeated again and again:

            " 'Yet you have not returned to Me,' says the LORD." (Amos 4:6, 8, 9, 10, 11)

What would it take for a person – for a nation – to return to God? Amos, the prophet, speaks for the LORD God and lays out the charges against Israel and Judah. Their transgressions make a long list in these chapters.

God is gracious, longsuffering, and full of mercy, sent discipline to try to get them to turn to God. His purpose for these afflictions was not to punish Israel, but it was to get their attention so they would seek God.

So he sent famine – "cleanness of teeth" (vs. 6), but they did not return to Him.

He withheld rain causing drought, yet they did not return to Him (vss. 7-8).

He blasted them with blight and mildew on their gardens and locusts to devour their crops, yet they did            not return to God (vs. 9).

He sent a plague, yet they did not return to God (vs. 10).

He sent fire like as unto Sodom and Gomorrah, still they did not return to God (vs. 11).

Because they would not repent and turn to Him, God gives this warning: "Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel" (vs 12)

So what would it take to cause a person – or a nation – to turn to seek God? When one looks at the consequences of sin, one would think that everyone would realize their need for God. Because the heart is stubborn and wants its own way, people do not want to repent.

The plagues on Egypt only caused Pharaoh's heart to harden. And in the prophecy of John in the Book of Revelation, we find the same response. The earth will be scorched with great heat from the sun, and they will blaspheme the name of God and will not repent and give Him glory (Rev. 16:9). The earth will become full of darkness and people will gnaw their tongues because of the pain and sores. But instead of repenting, they will blaspheme God (vs. 10). God will send a great hailstorm. But men will blaspheme God because of the plague of the hail (vs. 21).

So when God tries to get my attention with adversity, what is my response? Do I turn to Him for mercy, or do I curse Him? May God help us to see His graciousness in allowing things that call us to turn to Him and seek His face.

Love, Dad