Thus the Lord God showed me, and behold, there was a basket of summer fruit. He said, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A basket of summer fruit.” Then the Lord said to me, “The end has come for My people Israel. I will spare them no longer. (vv.1-2)
In today’s reading “the end has come,” marks the end of God's patience with Israel and the appointed time for His judgment on them (v.2). The main image in this fourth vision of Amos is a basket of fruit (V.1). God showed it to the prophet as a confirmation of the coming judgment. The idea of “ripeness” means that this was not a random or sudden decision of God, but rather that it had been a long time coming. Like the slow process of fruit growing and ripening toward a harvest, the nation’s sins—including its rejection of God’s prophets and their warnings—had been accumulating and deepening toward a harvest of judgment (V.3).
This message is aimed especially at rich oppressors (vv.4-6). Their pride and brutality are seen in the picture of them trampling the needy and doing away with the poor. Instead of repenting and seeking the Lord, they were waiting impatiently for holy days and Sabbaths to be over so that they could get back to doing business. They showed no respect for the rhythms of community life as established by God, nor respect for people, seeing them only as a source of profit.
Perhaps they were workaholics—at the very least they had put money at the center of their lives. What’s worse, they were guilty of dishonest weights and measures, not to mention price–gouging. “Selling even the sweepings.” (which was the exact opposite of the Law’s compassionate principle of gleaning in which the poor were allowed to harvest “leftovers” from the fields - see Lev. 19:9–10). Now justice would be done on these sins and others (vv.7-8). God would not forget. And, as surely as the annual rising and receding of the Nile River, a flood of judgment would overwhelm Israel.
Sometimes God’s patience with our sinful nature can be misinterpreted, leading us to conclude, He does not care about our sin. Not so, God’s patience and kindness are meant to lead us toward repentance (Romans 2:4). Yes He is a gracious and compassionate God, who is slow to anger and abounding in love (Ex. 34:6). Yet, He is also a God who is righteous and not afraid to judge.
Therefore, be warned, His patience is not a sign of weakness, but of grace. And the time for His harvest draws nearer every day. So I strongly suggest you take advantage of His grace now, than to run out of time and experience His wrath later.
The Truth: “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
