Amos 3

Verse 6b—"Does disaster come to a city unless the LORD plans it?" (NLT)

The answer to this rhetorical question is, obviously, “No.” It is an example of God’s power and control; his providence. It is an example of the fact that he is not removed from his creation but is an active player in it; but even more than that, I believe he is the principle player in the grand drama we are living. Nothing happens in the world without the LORD first planning it. Sometimes I know it may seem cruel when bad things happen to seemingly innocent people, but as it says in Job, who are we to question God and his plans? Who is the creation to question its Creator? (Job 32:12; Isaiah 29:16). God makes plans and it his prerogative to chose whom he wants to reveal those plans to and when. But he has made know his Plan (capital P) to whomever will open their eyes and see, and their ears and hear. His plan, God’s big Plan, which spans from eternity to eternity, which encompasses all of time, is simply to draw humanity to himself so that we might see him and know him and in the end glorify him. The first point to the Westminster Catechism is this:

What is the chief the of man?

The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him greatly.

So if nothing bad happens in the world without God’s planning it and intending it for his greater purpose, we should also find confidence in knowing that he cares about this world and about us. Thus, what do we have to worry about? Is not the LORD God greater than anything else we can imagine?

Verse 9—"Announce this to the leaders of Philistia and to the great one of Egypt: 'Take your seat now on the hills and around Samaria, and witness the chaos and oppression in Israel'"(NLT).

Now this might seem cruel and mean—God telling Israel’s enemies to watch as he punishes Israel. It might seem as though he bragging in a way. “Hey, look what I’m doing to Israel. Isn’t this great? Their so pathetic.” But this is not why God told this to Philistia and Egypt. The reason why God said what he did here, the effect of what he said and of what Philistia and Egypt saw him do probably resulted in them asking this question: “If God is willing to do this to Israel, to his people, then how much more would he be willing to do that to us?” I think the reason God spoke those words in verse 9 to Israel’s enemies was so that they would see what God is doing and have fear of him and worship him and glorify him. We do know, that by the time of the New Testament, when God sent his Son, the Christ, to earth, he extended his invitation of salvation to everyone, including Egypt and Philistia.

God knows what he’s doing, I think. And for all those who are a part of his family, have no need to worry. All we have to do is simply obey him and follow him and seek after him. When we make him first in our lives he is glorified. And when we receive his punishment, know that it is only because he loves us and wants us to be in perfect union with him. He wants to draw us back to himself.

The LORD is great and greatly to be praised. Amen.