Amos 3:1-8
When the Lion Roars
Read the passage
1Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:
2“Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
3Can two walk together without agreeing where to go?
4Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl in his den if he has caught nothing?
5Does a bird land in a snare where no bait has been set? Does a trap spring from the ground when it has nothing to catch?
6If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?
7Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.
8The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy?
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The LORD addresses the whole family He brought out of Egypt. He has known Israel from among all the families of the earth; therefore He will punish their iniquities. Their closeness to Him makes the accusation more serious.
Amos asks a series of questions. Can two people walk together without agreeing where to go? Does a lion roar without prey? Does a bird enter a trap without bait, or a trap spring with nothing to catch? Each question draws attention to a cause and its result.
The questions reach the city: when the horn sounds, people tremble; when calamity comes, the LORD has caused it. In this warning to Israel, the coming judgment is His act. Amos then says that the Lord GOD reveals His plan to His servants the prophets.
The lion has roared, so fear follows. The Lord GOD has spoken, so Amos must prophesy. The message is not something he can set aside because the audience would rather not hear it. Israel is being warned by the God who brought them near.
Questions
1 Whom did God bring up from Egypt?
AnswerHe brought the whole family of Israel up from Egypt, making their rescue the reason their covenant disobedience carries such weight.
2 Why will God punish Israel?
AnswerHe will punish them because, although He uniquely knew and chose them among the families of the earth, they persisted in iniquity.
3 What does a lion's roar represent in the argument?
AnswerIt represents a real cause for alarm: when the LORD speaks judgment, the danger is not imaginary and the prophet cannot treat it as background noise.
4 Why must Amos prophesy?
AnswerThe Lord GOD has spoken, and Amos cannot remain silent any more than a person can hear a lion’s roar and pretend nothing is happening.
What This Means for Us
Israel’s relationship with God is the reason given for accountability, rather than an exemption from it. What God has made known to His people matters to how they live.
Think about a truth you have had the privilege of learning from Scripture. Where does it call for obedience in your family’s life? Knowing the words is a gift, but it is also a reason to act on them when they challenge you.
Prayer
God who knows Your people, make us responsible with every gift and privilege. Help us hear correction without panic, repent without excuses, and respond faithfully when You expose harm. Amen.