Whoever Amos the cookie maker is, he sure did come up with an excellent marketing plan. First, he put the word famous in the name of his company, giving everyone the idea that his cookies had a great reputation. Then, by putting the words Famous and Amos together, he gave his customers an easy name to remember.
I know of another Amos who was not so famous. He was a prophet who lived in Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel, and was called by God to prophesy to the northern kingdom.
His message was clear: You people might be prospering now, but you have turned your back on God. He is going to judge you so harshly, there will be nobody left.
As you can imagine, his message wasn’t very popular in the northern kingdom. The prophets of Jereboam 2nd, a cruel and godless king, despised Amos because they had been telling the good news he wanted to hear ~ not the truth. So they tried to shut Amos up. “Get out of here, you prophet!” Said Amaziah, the corrupted priest of Bethel. “Go on back to the land of Judah” (Amos 7:12). It didn’t work. Amos just kept on prophesying.
Perhaps you’ve been in Amos’ position. In genuine concern, you have delivered warnings to friends or family about bad choices or behaviors. They didn’t like it. They may have told you in no uncertain terms that it’s none of your business; ad ordered you to leave them alone.
You shouldn’t be surprised. Giving bad news never makes one famous. But you have shown genuine love and heartfelt concern. You’ve done what’s right, and that will make you as famous as Amos in God’s eye.
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