When you pray, do you thank God for what He has done, or for who He is (or both)? I admit that praising God for His blessings is usually what I first remember to do, rather than giving Him worship for His nature and attributes. However, wise Christians around me offer reminders from time to time, emphasizing that there is a place and a time to thank God for who He is, separately from what He does. To do so, though, we have to understand God’s nature.
With some introduction to the book of Amos in the previous article, we’re actually going to jump to the last chapter. (Want to know what happens in-between? I encourage you to read the entire book of Amos. It shouldn’t take more than a week if you read a chapter or two each day.)
The Lord, the LORD Almighty—
he touches the earth and it melts,
and all who live in it mourn;
the whole land rises like the Nile,
then sinks like the river of Egypt;
he builds his lofty palace in the heavens
and sets its foundation on the earth;
he calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out over the face of the land—
the LORD is his name.
Amos 9:5-6 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/amo.9.5-6.NIV
Sometimes, we just need to remember who God is:
- If we’re tempted to rely on our own abilities, we need to remember God’s power and might.
- If we think that we have all of the answers, we need to remember God’s wisdom and knowledge.
- If we feel like doing whatever we want, we need to remember that God loves us so much that He is sometimes compelled to discipline us when we are doing things that harm ourselves. (See Revelation 3:19-20)
These are just some of God’s attributes, but they are worthy of our worship (yes, even the discipline, which we don’t enjoy, but which makes us better in the long run if we learn from it).
In addition, God is described here by several of many names that He is given in the Bible (referencing the “Names of God” version of the Bible for some help).
- He is the Lord (what our Jewish friends might say as Adonai)
- He is God, by name (what we might pronounce as Yahweh)
- He is the Lord “Almighty” (NIV) or the Lord GOD “of armies” (NASB) (what you may have heard as Lord Sabaoth)
God is powerful over His creation. He can pick up the land and the sea, and He can put them back down. Do you remember the earthquake mentioned in Amos 1:1 from the previous article? A commentator [Shank, p.210] points out that an earthquake took place two years later, citing Zechariah 14:5.
However, I admit that sometimes I forget that God can do whatever He wills. My problems seem too big for Him, so I foolishly try to take them on myself. I fear that the really “dramatic miracles” of history aren’t something that God could still do just as easily. However, God hasn’t changed: neither His character nor His power.
So, if you or I are in a challenging situation, this passage from Amos is a good reminder for each of us. God created this world, and He can still do with it as He pleases.
Personally, I think that messages like this reinforce the importance of understanding the first chapters of the Bible, where we learn that “God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). We don’t have to agree on exactly how and when God created the world, but once we understand God’s power, His role in the universe, and His sovereignty over everything (including us), this helps us to understand the rest of the Bible.
If someone ignores God as Creator, they miss out on the reason why He must be respected and honored. If someone claims that God wasn’t involved in the Creation, then they don’t understand how God has the right to tell His Creation how to live. In addition, if we don’t appreciate God’s character, we can miss out on His wisdom and understanding of what is truly best for His Creation, even when parts of it (i.e., we human beings) think that they know better than Him.
Perhaps the Lookout’s summary of people back then still applies to our world today: “Creation seemed to know that God is in control, but the people of Israel seemed clueless.”
For those of us seeking to follow God and live in His will, this is a reminder of hope. For those who are rebelling against God, though, this is a warning. I hope that it is a message of hope for you, today.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for March 19, 2023
References:
- The Lookout, March 19, 2023, © 2022 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Minor Prophets Volume 1 – Hosea-Micah, by Harold Shank. © 2001 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 