The LORD's Regret Amos 7:3

Because of the magnitude of the judgment that was pronounced against Israel, Amos the “herdsman” prophet begged for the LORD to “forgive” them, and asked, “by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small”. In chapter seven and verse three, Amos received the answer to his prayer as we see the LORD's “regret”. We read:

The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, says the LORD.

The verse begins, “The LORD repented for this:” Amos began with the words, “The LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God” “repented” which means “was sorry for, regretted, was moved to pity and suffered grief” “for this” which refers to Amos' question “by whom shall Jacob arise, for it is small”.

The verse goes on to say, “It shall not be, says the LORD.” Amos continued, “It shall not be” which means “that the absence of arising would not happen or occur”, “says” or “utters, declares and proclaims” “the LORD” which again refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God”. God's answer to Amos' prayerful request was that “it shall not happen”.

When we consider these words of Amos, we may wonder how God could ever “repent” of anything. He knows everything, and therefore doesn't “repent” or “turn from in an opposite direction” from any situation like a person does. The answer is in our limited language to describe how the LORD turns from what appears to be His final decision to a merciful one. He knew that Israel would not be completely destroyed though He allowed and formed the “grasshoppers” or “locust larvae” which were destined to ruin their crops. We may get the idea the circumstances we endure are meant to completely destroy us, and we mistakenly think God is somehow against us too. Not so. God sent His Son Jesus to save us from ourselves and eternal damnation from Him. When we accept Jesus Christ as our LORD and Savior it doesn't mean we won't face difficult times or challenging problems. When those time come, we must rely upon the fact that God loves us even as He did Israel, and we may praise Him for His never ending “regret” over our situations.

Next time we see how Amos “called to contend by fire”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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