Amos 7:1-6 - How can Jacob survive?

7:1-3

In this chapter we get some interesting insights. First there is the relationship between Amos and the Lord. Throughout the Bible there is no one way that people receive prophecies, but one common thread is that the prophet is definitely not an automaton! There is personal interaction between the Lord and the prophet. Then in the second half of this chapter we get Israel’s reaction.

The first two sections are very similar, in these verses God shows Amos a vision of what He was planning. In this case He is preparing a swarm of locusts. Locusts are notorious for devastating harvests. “After the king’s share had been harvested”. This would have happened at the worst time for the ordinary people, but the king would have been OK, for he would have harvested his stuff.

Amos is appalled, out of his concern for the people, and calls on God to relent, and the Lord does so.

7:4-6

This section follows a similar pattern. God shows Amos a vision, this time of judgement by fire, a devastating fire. Again Amos is appalled, and call on God to stop, and God does so.