By Who Shall Jacob Arise? Amos 7:2

As Amos the prophet continued to share how the LORD would judge the people of Israel, he wrote how God “formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings” which means the “locusts” were in the larvae state just after the king sheared his grass or “latter crop” which prepared them for destruction in the “early harvest”. In chapter seven and verse two of his prophesy, Amos asked the question, “by whom shall Jacob arise?” where we read:

And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech you: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

The verse begins, “And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land,...” Amos began with the words, “And it came to pass that when they” which refers to “” “had made an end” which is all one Hebrew word “kalah” and means “accomplished, cease, consumed, determined, complete and finished” “of eating” or “devouring, consuming and burning up” “the grass” which means “herb, herbage and green plants” “of the land” or “the earth, territory, country, district and region”. Amos' reference is when the “locusts” finish “consuming” the “grass” of the country of Israel.

The verse goes on to say, “then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech you: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.” Amos continued, “then I said” or “Amos” “uttered, declared or proclaimed” “O Lord GOD” which refers to “the title spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence who is the divine ruler and judge”, “forgive” which means “pardon and spare”, “I beseech you: by whom shall Jacob” whose name means “heel holder or supplanter” and was “the son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham and father of the twelve patriarchs of the tribes of Israel” “arise” which means “rise or stand up to become powerful”? “for he is small” which means “young, insignificant and unimportant”. Amos' appeal was to ask God to “forgive them” because Israel was “small”, he could see no way for Israel to “stand up and be powerful” again.

When we think through these words of Amos, we see how moved he was by the “locusts'” devastation against the “herbs and green plants” of Israel. Since Amos was a “herdsman”, he knew this would have a wasteful affect upon his cattle. The judgment against his people had begun, and it caused Amos to cry out to God in prayer. Perhaps there are those reading these words today who know the conditions of their country and its lack for turning to God. They are apostate and have forsaken God and His ways. Jesus Christ came to bring people into a relationship with God, and should they delay too long, it may be that it will be asked, “by whom with that person arise?”. May all who read these words take heed.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Amos refer to “grasshoppers”, 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.