Read Amos 3:1-8

“Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)

When I was eight years old I was attacked by a Rottweiler — an attack that could have put me in the hospital. The dog, who was more than twice my weight, had me pinned down on the hot asphalt. To protect my face, I remember instinctively shoving both of my hands directly into his jaws.

The incident wasn’t unprovoked. My friend, Daniel, and I were tossing a football back and forth. As we played, I keenly remember noticing his Rottweiler’s unease. I wondered why, until I watched Daniel take the football and throw it at his dog. This happened several times. We laughed. We made fun. Everything was fine. That is, until I had the bright idea that I would join Daniel in throwing the ball at his dog.

Deadly mistake.

The dog sprinted at me with fire in its eyes and knocked to me the ground to punish me. Everyday I’m reminded of this unpleasant memory. Etched on my knuckles and fingers are five scars where the dog’s teeth chomped down. Had I not used my hands, surely I would have acquired the nickname scarface.

Never provoke a Rottweiler.

This may seem like a random story, but it illustrates the same lesson found here in the third chapter of Amos.

Never provoke God.

Amos poses a series of questions to highlight the cause-and-effect relationship between God’s actions and the consequences faced by the people of Israel. Notice God’s questions:

“Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing? Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it? Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all? If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?” (Amos 3:3–6)

Contextually, the nation of Israel had deviated from God’s will. Shouldn’t they, of all people on the earth, have known better than to commit crimes against God? They did know better! Yet, despite their special relationship with God, they chose to corrupt their ways.

Because of this, God was delivering a stern message of judgment against Israel — a judgment that was not random or arbitrary, but a result of the people provoking God’s righteous anger through their idolatry and disobedience.

Oh, how arrogant mankind is! We beware of provoking wild beasts, but think nothing of provoking God? Is God not more dangerous to arouse in His anger?

But God is never angry without love. This is the beauty of our God. Unlike the lion — or, in my case, the Rottweiler — God’s love is to relentlessly woo His people and warn them before judging them. Likewise, God gives the sinner time to consider his ways; time to repent; time to change the outcome of their deserved judgment.

God is not passive! He never does nothing!

God never lets the transgressor live in ease. God never lets the offender stray ignorantly. God never lets the sinner wander carelessly into hell! God always reveals His ways, always warns, and always has His hands outstretched to save.

“Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23)

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Beloved, remember that it was God who loved you when you hated Him. It was Christ who died for you when you were yet an enemy. It was the Holy Spirit who convicted you while you lived hell-bound. Yes! — you stand in His righteousness today because the Almighty God pursued you, as He patiently pursues all men, “For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’” (Romans 10:13)

Our eternal anthem shall be:

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)