Bite 5: In Amos 1 God Can’t Not Be His Character and Nature

Look at God

I mean, really look at him. Not a god devised in man’s mind. One stripped of wrath and authority and vengeance. The God of the Bible. Look at him as he reveals himself in the pages of our text.

I see that God doesn’t do his deeds under cover of darkness. If he inflicts pain on a people group, there isn’t a question of who done it or why. God says I will do this because they did that. Cause and effect. He doesn’t cower in the corner of heaven, ashamed of wrath or meting justice. God declares his intentions, and as we discussed here, God’s intentions are his accomplishments.

Moving from the general to the specific, evil was plotted and carried out against God’s own. By way of reminder, I’ve brought here the list of transgressions in this passage which we’ve looked at previously:

• Threshed Gilead (Amos 1:3)
• Captured people group and exiled (Amos 1:6)
• Didn’t remember covenant (Amos 1:9)
• Pursued brothers with sword with no pity (Amos 1:11)
• Violent murders of mothers pregnant with children (Amos 1:13)
• Dishonored dead king (Amos 2:1)

What does God say will be the result of these transgressions? Let’s remember that list as well:

• Fire (Amos 1:4, 7, 10, 12, 14, 2:2)
• Break strongholds (Amos 1:5, 7, 10, 14, 2:2)
• Cut off (Amos 1:5, 8, 2:3)
• Exile (Amos 1:5, 14)
• Turn his hand against (Amos 1:8)
• Death (Amos 1:8, 2:3)

Take a Step Back

Why am I studying the book of Amos? In order to know God better. I’ve come into the drama of history in the middle of the action. People groups have taken violent action against God’s people and as a result God has something to say about it.

As a student of the Word, I would like a better education about the details of this era of history. What has gone before that God’s intentions are these? My next step is to unravel the mysteries of the multiple Ben-hadads and Amaziahs and write out a timeline of events. (A bunch of guys had the same name!) Because I’m human I must think in human terms. Even though God, in his omniscience, knows the end from the beginning all at the same time, I have to think in terms of chronology. So what are the events that lead to Amos’s prophecy as given by God? There is a law of causality and it came into play in the course of history.

Side Note on Tools

I know I’ve mentioned Logos to you before. And I don’t believe it’s necessary to have tools more than a good modern translation of the Bible and maybe some pencil and paper, but I’ve never made so much use of my Logos digital library as I have in the couple of weeks as I attempt to unravel the threads of Who’s Who in the Zoo of Middle Eastern history. A couple of features particularly with the Topic Guide and the Factbook (no, not Facebook) were as if I had my own research assistant hanging out and waiting for my bidding. By the way, any map images I bring here to show you are screenshots from my Logos software. Credit where due.

Speaking of maps, I’m sure I’ve told you that I love them. Fires my imagination to think about the people who live in the represented area. Makes me feel both a sense of smallness and insignificance, as well as a sense of community with others on the earth.

Side Note on My Plan

Understanding these prophesies means investigation. Investigation means answering the 5 W’s and an H to the best of my research-y ability. In my head, knowing “Where?” comes first in the investigation.

Syria Called Out First

In Amos 1:3-5, our prophet uses a number of names in the text. Being largely ignorant of the political boundaries of the OT, I digitally pulled out my atlases. This first map was perfect for my needs. Every location Amos calls to attention: labeled on this map. Well, almost all. It doesn’t have Kir. Oh, to clarify, did I tell you that another name for Syria is Aram? I just learned that. Let’s look at the map.

I had to find another map to illustrate Kir’s location. Apparently it’s not a high profile area because it was a challenge for me to find it.

Now I have some idea of the “Where?” Next in my investigation I answered the question of “Who?” This was where my resident research assistant that lives in Logos Bible Software became invaluable.

The Inhabitants

The biggest mystery to me as I ventured forth was what is the deal with the Ben-hadads? I’m sure you’ve experienced this situation where it seems half the people you know of one gender have the same name. For example, right now “Matt” is the name I can successfully try roughly 45% of the time. No matter where I am: church, BJJ, anywhere. Apparently, in Syria in the 9th century B.C., Ben-hadad was their “Matt.”

My first observation about these guys, according to my Factbook report generated in Logos, the name means “son of Hadad.” Hadad, who the Arameans regarded as their weather deity. The particularly helpful aspect of Factbook is that when I select in the text one Ben-hadad, the information is concerning that particular individual is reported rather than all of them together. So some brilliant scholar up there at Logos has done more work than I can do to tag each individual one and provide their bio. Nifty.

Timeline

Ben-hadad I

The first of the Ben-hadads (BH) appears in 1 Kings 15:18 when Asa, king of Judah, bought an alliance with BH, king of Syria, to get Baasha, king of Israel, to withdraw from Judah. BH agreed to the terms and conquered cities in Israel. Baasha ceased building his city in Ramah (Benjamin’s tribal inheritance) and moved back up north, near Samaria.

Ben-hadad II

Now reading my Lexham Bible Dictionary, I see there is another BH during the time of Ahab who appears on the scene in 1 Kings 20:1. My notes up above misses this guy. Or I thought this BH was the first BH. See? Confusing. You are on this adventure with me whether I got it right the first time or not. Anyway, this BH attacked Samaria but the LORD gave the Syrians into Ahab’s hand so he would know who is the LORD (1 Kings 20:13).

Continuing the story in 1 Kings, God furthers his point about who he is when the few of Israel came against the multitude of Syria in the following spring. Israel struck down Syria and the remainder fled. Among those that fled was this second BH. There’s so much more to his story as we read through 1 Kings 20 and following, and it’s tragic not to discuss how God operates in that scenario. However we must focus as we attempt to get a big picture of the history of Syria’s dealings with God’s people. Why is there judgment coming on Syria as spoken by Amos?

Hazael and Ben-hadad III

Fast forward to the time when Elisha came into Damascus. At that time, BH II was sick and sick enough to make him wonder of recovery. So he sent his officer Hazael with gifts to Elisha in order to inquire about the future of his health. This account is told starting in 2 Kings 8:7 and it is very interesting; I recommend you go there and read of it. Suffice to summarize that Elisha told Hazael to tell the king he would recover, but then Elisha paused and stared at the officer until Hazael was squirming uncomfortably. Upon inquiry, Elisha cried. Why did he cry?

 
He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. 
You will set on fire their fortresses, 
and you will kill their young men with the sword 
and dash in pieces their little ones 
and rip open their pregnant women.” 1

Oh. Why does Amos speak this prophecy against the house of Hazael? Against his son the third Ben-hadad (Amos 1:4)? Because of the evil that they did against the people of Israel. Or would do.

Everyone Else

As far as the rest of the people groups and geographical regions that are mentioned here in our passage, I didn’t research as extensively. The research of Syria revealed quite a bit of the traitor-nature of most of these other folks since not only were there alliances formed back and forth and all around, but many of these people groups share blood lines with Israel. Nothing like family, is there? At any rate, I did find out a little more information that sheds light on the wrath of God of which Amos speaks. Here are my stickies.

You can see some of the ill-dealings that family and neighbors of Israel had against God’s people.

The Transgressions

• The Philistines (including the 5 cities known as the Pentapolis: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath) are noted for exiling a whole people (Amos 1:6-8)
• Tyre had been an ally of Israel centuries before, during reign of David. Historically considered as “covenant of brotherhood” (Amos 1:9-10). Specifically, among other acts of violence against “brothers,” there was Ahab’s wife Jezebel, who was also daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon which had been “encompassed by its former enemy Tyre.” ²
• While it was part of the Law to not abhor an Edomite who are the descendants of Esau (see Deut 23:7-8), that didn’t mean consequences for their actions wouldn’t come about. In 2 Chronicles 28:17, the Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah. And carried away exiles, among other transgressions (Amos 1:11-12).
• In similar theme, the brothers of Ammon and Moab carried out despicable actions against their relatives (Num 20:17, 21-22; Deut 23:3-6). Amos indicts these two here in our text in Amos 1:13-2:3.

Reflection

What have I learned from my research of these nations whose blood lines cross and interconnect? I see that God loves his people Israel with perfect devotion. But I also see that he is also concerned for other nations as well. He is unapologetically just. It is his character and nature so he can do no other. In this case, he not only doesn’t hide his actions in the shadows, he declares them before he performs them. In writing. Preserved for centuries.

In my mind’s eye, I hike through the rocks and hills of these regions, reading through scriptures and accounts of history in dictionaries I have in Logos, I see the interactions between these people groups. One group is destined to bring judgment on another group, but the one bringing destruction is also accountable for their actions. I’m not here to decide how God operates and whether I “like” it or not. If God does action, it is right. When he metes justice, it is perfect. Like I said, it’s God’s character and nature. He can’t not be his character and nature (why, yes, that is a double negative used there for emphasis).

The LORD Has Spoken

What I also see in Amos is that God has everlasting love for Israel. By comparison, his love for Israel is described elsewhere as “I have loved Jacob but Esau I hated” (Mal 1:2-3, and with regard for election it’s quoted in Rom 9:13). Malachi tells us that Edom would be called by outsiders as “the wicked country” and “the people with whom the LORD is angry forever (Mal 1:4).”

This is what I’ve been mulling over as I study this section. God has both justice and mercy at different times for people. He is always justice and mercy but he takes action on them at different times.

God’s Dealings with Other Nations

Think about the times that foreigners intersected with the Most High God and received mercy. I spent a few minutes walking through the books of the OT, thinking about the content of each and seeing if I could remember foreigners with whom God interacted. (As a passing note of interest, I now have some context for the nationalities of these folks because of my study with you. That is exciting to me!)

• Joshua preserves the life of Rahab (Joshua 6:22-25)
• Ruth the Moabitess was cared for (Ruth 2:5-7)
• Elijah sojourns with Sidonian woman whose son died (1 Kings 17:16-24)
• Elisha cures Naaman, commander of the army in Syria (2 Kings 5:1-14)
• Jonah was sent by God to warn the Assyrians of their impending doom (Jonah 3:6-10)

That was the OT, where there is a misconception that God is thought of as the angry one who has no mercy. In reality, God is God of the whole Bible. He is the same through and through. The Most High God is the author of our salvation. It was his idea. Not everyone receives mercy because God is not obligated by his nature to give it to everyone. It’s not a matter of “fair” but a matter of God’s choice. If anyone thinks he deserves mercy, he is using the wrong term.

Our text instructs us that there are consequences for actions in God’s economy. God is a God of justice, along with all his other attributes. All at the same time, all in perfect harmony with all the others. I believe God’s justice will continue to be illustrated in Amos as I study, however as I meditate on justice I am reminded of his mercy. Without the former, I’m not sure I would value the latter so much.

Wrap Up

Our Bible Study Bite today is simple: you can access Logos Bible Software for free. Right here by clicking this link. Can you study the scripture without extra tools? Of course. Do I recommend you get additional tools if you don’t use the ones you have? No! But if you use the tools you have, will you perhaps learn more with additional tools? Quite possibly. Logos doesn’t do the work of study for you, but it will make your work easier.

More Than Just Bible Study Proper

I’ve used Logos for decades. Obviously we’ve used it in our times together here in my living room, but the opportunities for study or reading other theological books on-the-go are myriad.

• Taking all of my resources with me to church on my phone or tablet, I am able to look up words while the pastor is preaching. Being a person who wants to know from the source, I like being able to hear what the preacher says and verify or supplement.
• When I’m out mountain biking or hiking on the trail with friends over the years, we’ve been able to look at context of verses and define words right there on the spot. If I have resources downloaded, I don’t even need internet.
• While waiting here and there at appointments or picking kids up, how much better to read something edifying rather than scrolling through the stupid that is social media? Just a thought.

I encourage you to check it out especially because there is a free version. I hesitate to recommend resources that cost you money because it can seem like the pious thing to do: owning Bible software. Meh. What I earnestly want for you, my dear fellow student of the Word, is for you to know our God better. Ultimately having more tools will only help you in learning if your imagination is fired up to use them. If you feel overwhelmed by them, don’t get them yet. But I want you to know they are here when you are ready to take the next step.

Thanks for studying with me today! If you’ve found anything helpful here, please like and subscribe. And if you know of other students of the Word, would you please share so we can all study and encourage each other with what we’re learning?

1. 2 Kings 8:12 (ESV)
2. Ferry, S. (2016). Tyre. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.