What Do You See?

In Amos 7, God asks Amos the same question twice: “What do you see?” Even though God already knows the answer, He still asks the question. And Amos’ answer is confirmed as correct by God—he sees what God is revealing to him. Imagine what must have happened in Amos’ life, heart, and mind when he was certain that he knew what God was revealing to him! There must have been a peace, confidence, and joy in Amos that lifted him above his current environment. This is one of the reasons God asks us questions He already knows the answers to.

Blessed Through Perseverance

Because Amos perseveres with the Lord through the challenges described in Amos 7–9, he is blessed with the promises God reveals in Amos 9:13–15—promises of ultimate salvation, restoration, and new life. The transparency, humility, and perseverance of Amos before the Lord were significant for his ability to understand and appreciate what the Lord wanted to reveal to him and do through his life.

Not Deceived: Amos and the People of Obadiah

Because of his transparency, humility, and perseverance, Amos was not deceived by anything that would have clouded his ability to see what God was revealing to him. Contrast this with the people addressed in Obadiah, who had been deceived:

Obadiah 3–4: “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord.”

Obadiah 7: “All your allies have driven you to your border; those at peace with you have deceived you; they have prevailed against you; those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you—you have no understanding.”

These people in Obadiah had no real respect for the Lord, and so a growing arrogance and pride took hold—the root of which was their lack of reverence for the Lord and His Word.

The Beginning of Knowledge

Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the Lord [awesome respect] is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

This lack of respect resulted in the people of Obadiah being severely deceived. Amos, by contrast, had an awesome respect for the Lord that humbled him and paved the way—through personal disciplines—for him to know the wisdom, messages, and promises of the Lord.

Both the people in Obadiah and Amos had been given the same information and knowledge. The difference was that Amos applied the knowledge to his life.

Knowledge Plus Application

This reveals a truth about life: knowledge without application equals foolishness, but knowledge plus application equals wisdom. The “knowledge + application” part boils down to a life, heart, and mind that lives with personal disciplines based on what the Lord reveals in and through His Word and Spirit. As Proverbs 1:7 reminds us, “…fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Eternal wisdom is a blessing that God desires all to have. It is what enabled the leadership of Moses, the humility of Judah, the heart of David, the courage and strength of Joshua, the boldness of Elijah, the perseverance of Job, and the faith and conviction of Daniel—and what ultimately reveals the mercy of Christ as our only Savior.

Where It Begins in Me

“It” all begins with me—personally dealing with the places in my heart that are occupied by pride or arrogance of any kind, then seeking the “beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7), and applying that knowledge to everything and into every part of my life.

When I know the Lord is speaking to me about something and either don’t follow His urging or fade from following Him, I run the risk of turning into a fool—just like the people in Obadiah.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I am more like the people in Obadiah than I want to admit. Forgive me, and help me to be more like Amos….