The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Amos 8:1-2,
"This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: a basket of ripe fruit. 'What do you see, Amos?' he asked. 'A basket of ripe fruit,' I answered. Then the Lord said to me, 'The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.'"
The Lord showed his prophet, Amos, a basket of ripe fruit, representing the people of Israel about to be consumed in his wrath. Just as fruit is allowed to ripen from its first appearance on the tree till the time for harvest, so the Israelites, in their sinful abandonment of the Lord, was left by the Lord until the time they were ripe for his judgment. His patience with them was at an end and now would come his judgment of them.
I can't help but see this passage as a presage for the coming end of this age. The Lord has allowed mankind the opportunity to seek him out as he draws all to himself. He has allowed mankind the opportunity to embrace him in faith, delaying his judgment till this present earth, full of sinful mankind, is ripe for his judgment. I am reminded of the patience of the Lord preceding his certain coming judgment as expressed by Peter, "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." 2 Peter 3:9-10.
"This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: a basket of ripe fruit. 'What do you see, Amos?' he asked. 'A basket of ripe fruit,' I answered. Then the Lord said to me, 'The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.'"
The Lord showed his prophet, Amos, a basket of ripe fruit, representing the people of Israel about to be consumed in his wrath. Just as fruit is allowed to ripen from its first appearance on the tree till the time for harvest, so the Israelites, in their sinful abandonment of the Lord, was left by the Lord until the time they were ripe for his judgment. His patience with them was at an end and now would come his judgment of them.
I can't help but see this passage as a presage for the coming end of this age. The Lord has allowed mankind the opportunity to seek him out as he draws all to himself. He has allowed mankind the opportunity to embrace him in faith, delaying his judgment till this present earth, full of sinful mankind, is ripe for his judgment. I am reminded of the patience of the Lord preceding his certain coming judgment as expressed by Peter, "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." 2 Peter 3:9-10.
A message here to consider when contemplating the great harvest of mankind by the Lord.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment