“I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son… And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel (vv.14-15).
The prophet Amos was a country preacher, a rustic of the rustics, a herder of sheep and a gatherer of sycamore fruit. He did not belong to the elite nor to the intellectuals and, when he went up to Bethel to preach, neither his clothes nor his sermons were cut according to the popular pattern. In the days of Amos, the people of Israel had turned the sacred site of Bethel into a place of idolatry. When Amos challenged their sins, the leaders lashed out.
Amos was not trained in the schools of men. He got his message from God as he meditated outdoors in his humble work. Therefore, he was not a prophet by profession; "I was no prophet," nor was he a prophet by parentage; "neither was I a prophet's son;" his father had not made him so. He was a prophet by providence; "And the Lord took me." What better credentials does any man need?
When Amos spoke he was not angling for any return engagements. He was a nonconformist, unregimented, unclassified. He had no sponsor but Almighty God. He was definitely "out of order" at Bethel. He was not out for personal gain or popularity, he simply delivered God’s message when and where he was told, without fear of how it may be received.
Here in chapter 7 the prophet Amos had been preaching a tough message about God's judgment of Israel. Understandably, his message was unpopular. Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to Jeroboam king of Israel saying, “Amos has conspired against you,” implicating the prophet in a conspiracy to undermine the King and the people of Israel. He further said that the message of Amos was too hard (the land is not able to bear all his words). Though Amaziah tried to drive Amos out of Bethel, he stood his ground.
Amos was bold enough to speak for the LORD, and to tell Amaziah and everyone else that Israel’s impending captivity is indeed true. This was a difficult word in most difficult circumstances, but Amos was faithful to deliver it.
The Truth: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
