A Lion, a Bear and a Serpent Amos 5:19

As Amos the prophet continued to share with Israel concerning the judgment of God, he told them there would be “wailing, moaning and lamenting” in their “streets, highways and vineyards”. They, however, believed incorrectly they should seek “the day of the LORD” because it would be a day of prosperity rather than punishment. Amos continued to describe their erroneous thoughts by using the examples of “a lion, a bear and a serpent” where we read:

As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him;

or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

The verse begins, “As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him;” Amos began with the words, “As if a man” or “as though a male individual” “did flee” which means “escaped, took flight and disappeared” “from a lion” or “away from the grips of a young or strong lion”, “and a bear” or “likened unto a mother bear robbed or her whelps” “met him” which means “encountered, reached, joined, entreated and encountered him”. Amos told Israel they would be as deceived as a man who thought he “escaped” from the death grip of a lion only to encounter a vicious bear immediately afterward.

The verse goes on to say, “or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.” Amos continued, “or went” which means “entered or came” “into the house” or “the dwelling, habitation, shelter and abode”, “and leaned his hand” or “laid, rested and upheld his hand supported by his wrist” “on the wall” which refers to “the supporting side of the house”, “and a serpent” which means a “snake” “bit him” or “gnawed upon the man with it's mouth and teeth”. In addition to escaping from a lion only to meet a bear, Amos told the people of Israel the security they had by supporting themselves against a “wall” would only be met by a “snake's” bite.

When we consider these words of Amos, we understand just how deceived the people of Israel were. When they thought themselves to be safe and secure from one bad situation, they only encountered another one. This sort of deception is common today. Jesus Christ came into the world to offer the ultimate safety needed by people, and this security is found in a relationship with Him. All other “escaping mechanisms” and “supportive” structures only lead to further destruction and pain. When a person realizes they only have “security in Jesus”, they have need of no other. May all who have escaped “lions” only to meet “bears” and leaned upon “wall” only to be bitten by a “snake” read and understand.

Next time Amos asks. “Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.