3:1 Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,

3:2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.

3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:1-3 KJV)

          Amos was an interesting person and he said he was not a prophet although he prophesized. What he was talking about then is still ongoing today. The same thing that happened to him then would happen today. He was banished from the area and later killed (by a clergy’s son, no less) (Putin?). The ‘higher ups’ did not like what he was saying even though he spoke from God.

          The book of Amos is short and can be read in one sitting. But, to really understand what Amos is saying you must read the book more than once and really understand each word.

          Things have not changed in Israel today. Like in the day of Amos, people are telling Israel to have compassion, stop what they are doing, etc. They ‘despised the law of the Lord’ (2:4) and ‘have not kept His commandments’ (2-4).

          Today, Israel still sins. They have rejected the laws of God and have unnecessarily slaughtered many people, letting them starve, and refuse to have mercy. Although Israel did not start the war, they bought it upon themselves. Like in the day of Amos they flaunted their riches and rejected the poor, etc. They overstepped their boundaries by running people off their land, taking it as their own, and murdering anyone trying to retake the land. All through Amos it says they will be punished.

          The Palestinians are caught in the middle of this war, but they are not innocent. They want Israel gone from the lands, they knew Hamas was digging tunnels and where they were. They probably knew about the attack before it happened and did not say anything.

          In some circles, they call Israel’s leader a Trump clone. He will not listen, know all there is to know, say he will do one thing but does another, and is not liked by many leaders around the world. To be loved by God it is not necessary to be love by the leaders around the world, but it is necessary to adhere to the commandments handed down by God. The people of Israel have turned their back on most of the commandments.

          The people of Israel, especially the leaders, should read Amos (for he talks about the nations around Israel) as he talks about Israel’s punishment, why, and how to return to the Lord. Maybe that will help them get out of the situation they are in and at the same time help the Palestinians.

          2:6-7 talks about Israel’s rap sheet containing the sins of selling the needy for a pair of hot new footwear and trampling over the poor to gain a financial advantage. That is some of what they are doing today. That is the reason God punishes Israel over and over. How many times will He turn His head and give them another chance?

          Read Amos and re-read Amos. Understand what Amos is saying and compare his words with what is happening today. God gave Israel a warning, but this may or may not be the last. Only God knows.