Wednesday: The Worst Type of Famine
“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Sovereign Lord,
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‘when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it’” (Amos 8:11-12, NIV). How are we to understand the meaning of these verses?
In Amos 8, the prophet describes devastating effects of God’s judgment on unrepentant Israel. God will punish the people for their sins by sending famine upon the land. But in verses 11 and 12 the prophet speaks of hunger and thirst for God’s Word. The tragedy that will stand out above all others is a famine of God’s Word because God will be silent, and no other famine could be worse.
Often when the people of Israel experienced great distress, they would turn to the Lord for a prophetic word in hope of guidance. This time God’s answer will consist of silence. A part of God’s judgment on His people will be the Lord’s withdrawal of His Word through His prophets.
If God’s people continue to be disobedient, the prophet says, the time would come when they will be eager to hear the message, but it will be too late to turn to God’s word in hope of escaping the judgment. This is the result of Israel’s persistent refusal to hear God’s message through Amos. Like Saul before his last battle (1 Sam. 28:6), the people will one day come to realize how much they need God’s Word.
An entire population will frantically search for God’s Word, the same word that they chose to ignore in the prophet’s time. Those especially affected will be the young. While the former generations had heard God’s Word and rejected it, the young people never will have the opportunity to hear the prophetic proclamation.
What do the following passages teach about the dire effects of the silence of God? 1 Sam. 14:37, Ps. 74:9, Prov. 1:28, Lam. 2:9, Hos. 5:6, Mic. 3:5-7.
In what ways is it possible to silence the voice of God in our lives? However scary that thought, dwell on the implications. How can we make utterly sure that never happens to us?
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Silence of God result in losing of meaning of life. Then suffering cant be bear because there is no hope in final outcome.
When there is no Law and no prophet there is a full curse. We have knowledge of Law and a message from prophet about final things and final end. We are blessed. Even if fallen in some religious experience, putting down the fire of reformation, even in our disobedient stage of life, we do have a needle that points north.
We are blessed as 7 day Adventists.
Wait a minute! This is extremely terrible!!! When God says he will not hear a prayer from a sinner, where will hope sprout from? When we are entangled with wordly pleasures and forget a present true investigative judgment, what would be our fate when probation closes? Jesus forsaw this danger and warned in Luke 21:34-35. Let's keep our relationship with the creator healthful for our benefit and others.
Amo 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Amo 8:12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
I believe that this scripture is refering to the close of probation for the world. because Matt 25 is speaking of church member that come to the door to late though they had gotten the oil, two set of people that are lost.
And another thing, if we are sinner still, how will we stand when He says Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. ??????
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If we don't hear from God, life is not worthy living. On the other hand I am asking myself a question- If I want God to hear me, am I ready to follow His direction, have I surrendered all to Him? We need to say like young Samuel, Speak Lord your servant is listening. What is critical is to listen and obey. We are blessed to have the word of God at our disposal let's read the word and listen to God speak.
I like your response. Just last night i was conversing with a brother from my church over the phone and he made a very poignant and thought-provoking statement; “are we willing to do all it takes to enter secure our salvation.” On the surface i would answer with a resounding yes. But if I am truly honest with myself and if I examine my thoughts and actions, I realize that I still hold on to many things I need to let go of in order to live a victorious life in Christ.
Amen ,Amen 2 Timothy 2:11,12 "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:" But here is great news verse 19 and 21 of the same chapter,(19) "Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord know's them that are his. And, let every one that name's the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (21) "If a man therefore purge himself from these (iniquities), he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." Let us stand there fore, keeping ourselves with these instructions! James also instructs in James 5:16, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."
Please help me understand this topic.
The cause of present truth can be greatly extended by personal effort. A working church will ever be a growing church. They will ever find a stimulus and a tonic in trying to help others, and in doing it they will be strengthened and encouraged.
I come from one of the slums in Nairobi but i wonder if people in this slum will ever listen to God's word, who will help us? i wish some one can offer himself and bring us this message in a crusade form. we have not heard such a strong message. surely we are ripe for destruction, this message has really touched me its really burning me, i think this is why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.God bless the author of this lesson.
KEEP PRAYING. GOD IS FAITHFUL.
This is serious friends!!! Once God becomes silent it is finished!! And Woe unto those who still think they we have time to, preach the word, to live a godly life! Friends we don't have time to stagger, let's live a lifestyle which is holy daily and die daily, so that when He comes to take us home He comes for people who are ready!! He is coming for people who will still be practicing a holy life because we won't make it to heaven ! For heaven is for the ready people who excesiced the will of God on Earth! Oh friends let's us not be near yet far! Let us not be found wanting when He appers!! Preach the Three Angles message whenever we are!!without delay!
AMEN!!!
Has God's silence occurred as for example WWII? Holocaust? Thanks for answer.
There will be two famines running parallel to each other. When the seven last plagues occur there will be such devastation to the land, water, animals and people that will devastate the food supply and impair the food producing ability of large regions causing massive famines. As the saying goes, "There are no atheists in a foxhole," so those suffering the plagues will seek mercy and relief from God while suffering these most awful scourges ever known to mankind. The voice of God is silent. There is the cry for remission of suffering but not for sin. "They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds" Rev 16:11.
Mercy had ceased her work and Christ has exchanged His priestly robes for His glorious kingly attire in readiness to descend for the glorious and joyful work of saving His faithful children, to raise the dead in Christ and to restore the faithful families of earth.
How can we read all this and not understand that those who know the Seventh-day Adventist message have been made watchmen to the house of Israel?
"In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import--the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.
The most solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals have been given us to proclaim to the world. The proclamation of these truths is to be our work. The world is to be warned, and God's people are to be true to the trust committed to them. They are not to engage in speculation, neither are they to enter into business enterprises with unbelievers; for this would hinder them in their God-given work.
Christ says of His people: "Ye are the light of the world." Matthew 5:14. It is not a small matter that the counsels and plans of God have been so clearly opened to us. It is a wonderful privilege to be able to understand the will of God as revealed in the sure word of prophecy. This places on us a heavy responsibility. God expects us to impart to others the knowledge that He has given us. It is His purpose that divine and human instrumentalities shall unite in the proclamation of the warning message.
So far as his opportunities extend, everyone who has received the light of truth is under the same responsibility as was the prophet of Israel to whom came the word: "Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." Ezekiel 33:7-9.
Are we to wait until the fulfillment of the prophecies of the end before we say anything concerning them? Of what value will our words be then? Shall we wait until God's judgments fall upon the transgressor before we tell him how to avoid them? Where is our faith in the word of God? Must we see things foretold come to pass before we will believe what He has said? In clear, distinct rays light has come to us, showing us that the great day of the Lord is near at hand, "even at the doors." Let us read and understand before it is too late." 9T 19, 20.
Are we already loosing the ability to hear God's voice?
Always seek God in prayer! Constantly asking for direction; Letting the scriptures impart wisdom of the will of God. For Hebrews 13:5 says I will never leave you or forsake You.
Amos 8:11,12
The Word of God is that food by which every soul can truly live, rather than by earthly bread alone (Matt. 4:4, Dt. 8:3). So the famine described is an extreme lack of God's Word due to man's choice to reject it.
The effects of silence from God can be viewed like this:
-Unanswered prayers (1 Sam.14:37).
-No hope or assurance for direction in life (Ps. 74:9).
-Unless repentance is made now, all efforts to connect with the Lord will be ignored (Prov. 1:28, Hosea 5:6).
-Seperation from God will lead to spiritual ruin (Lam. 2:9).
-Deception from professed church leaders will have full sway over members of the congregation (Micah 3:5-7).
Jesus said that if any one confesses Him before men, He will also confess that person before His Father. The opposite is true for the person who denies Him (Matt. 10:32-33). God has done and is doing all He possibly can to convince us of how much value He has placed upon us and continues to find ways to draw us ever closer to Him without forcing us to make that choice.
Yet as described in Roman 1, God will eventually come to a point where He must remove Himself from those whose lives reveal their hearts desire for evil continuosly, replacing the void with strong delusions. The plan of salvation is so complex that no earthly pen can ever capture it's full meaning, yet it is so simple that losing out on it will truly be a questionable circumstance. However, our sinful choices continue to seperate us from our Father leaving Him no choice but to hide His face from us should we consent to sin daily (Isa. 49:2).
I purpose, it isn't hard to break God's Silence.
To avoid these dire effects we need to Sit at the feet of Jesus daily.
We there find that as we look upon the past His love has been so gracious, it will win our hearts at last. Don’t you want your heart to be won over to Christ everyday? Then you should recite this prayer every day.
Bless me oh my Saviour bless me,
As I sit low at Thy feet.
Oh look down in love upon me,
Let me see Thy face so sweet.
Give me Lord the mind of Jesus,
Keep me holy as He is.
May I prove I’ve been with Jesus,
Who is all my righteousness.
Isn't this much better then God's judgment that falls on the transgressor who shuns his mercy. I do believe that Gods mercy is as available as the air we breath, if we look to Christ and believe on Him with faith that our communion with Him on a daily basis will take care of our anxiety. Steps to Christ chapter 8