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THEBOOKOFAMOS
Lesson11,Chapter6continued2
We’llopentodaybycontinuingwithourdetourthatre-examinesthecrucial
biblicaltermelohim;awordthatistypically…nearlyuniversally…translatedinto
EnglishasGod(singular)orgods(plural).Overthemanyyearsofstudyand
teaching,IhavecometotheconclusionthattranslatingElohimasGodorgods
easilyleadsusofftrack,andthatthereisabetterdefinitionthatcaninanumber
ofsituationshelptoelucidatemanybiblicalpassagesthatareeitherglossedover
whenencountered,oralong-acceptedexplanationisgiventhat,frankly,doesn’t
offermuchhelpbutitdoesallowforcertainquestionablemanmadedoctrinesto
remainintactandunchallenged.
Sincewhatyou’rehearingfrommeonthissubjectisnewtomostofyou,Iwant
everyonefirsttobeclearaboutwhatIamNOTsaying.Iamnotsayingthat
God…theGodofAbraham,Isaac,andJacob…islessthanwhatweknowHeis.
NordoesHehaveanyrivals.Noristhereanybeingofanykindcomparableto
Him.Iamnotsayingthatwearetoacceptasvalidthegod-systemsofthe
ancient-timespagans,noroftheGreeksortheRomansasbeingalternative
systemsofactualgodsandgoddessesthatexist.Iwillalsostipulatethatbyno
meansdoesmyconclusionontheproperunderstandingofthewordelohimhave
nootherpossibleexplanationnorisitthefinalwordonthesubject.
Fortunately,ourbodyofknowledgeaboutthebiblicalHebrewlanguagegrows
andgrowsnotbecausetheBiblechanges,butatleastpartlybecausesomany
giftedpeoplehavebecomeancientlanguagescholarsandcontinuetodiscover
howonelanguagemorphedovertimeintoanother,withcertainwordsandtheir
meaningsfollowingalongfromtheoldertothenewerlanguagewithbutminor
modifications.Thescholarlywordforcomparingwordsfrom2ormorelanguages
thatwerebirthedfromacommonearlierlanguageiscalledcognates.And,due
tothemanydecadesofexcellentresearch,andtheregularunearthingofnewly
discoveredtrovesofancienttabletsandscrolls,thisbodyofknowledgeofwhat
thosewordsmeanttotheancientHebrewswhowrotetheBibleandtothose
Hebrewswhoreadorheardthemcontinuestoexpandandsotheintended
meaningsofthoseoriginalbiblicalwordsarebeingrevealedwithmorenuance
andprecisedefinition.
Lesson11-AmosChapter6continued2
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Forexample:thenearlymiraculousre-emergenceoftheDeadSeaScrolls,after
beingburiedincavesfor2000years,gaveusanearlyimmediate1000-yearleap
backintimefromtheearliestOldTestamentmanuscriptsthathadeverbeen
foundpriortothatdiscovery.Thatis,theOldTestamenttranslationsweallcarry
aroundthatarebasedoncopiesoftheancientHebrewbiblicalmanuscripts(as
opposedtothosebasedontheGreekSeptuagint)arefromnoearlierthanabout
1000A.D.TheDeadSeaScrolls,however,werewrittenaroundthe2
nd
century
B.C.Thesefaroldertextshaverevealedsomuchtousprimarilybecausethey
aretheclosestyettothetimetheoriginalscriptureswerewritten…andbyat
least1000years…fromwhatweeverhadbeforethatdiscovery.Imagine:we
nowhavethesameOldTestamentinourpossessionthatJesusofNazareth
studied,readfrom,andknew.However,notasmuchofthisnewknowledgefrom
theDeadSeaScrolls(asitshouldhave)hasfiltereddownintotheseveral
existingBibleversionstheChristiancommunityhastraditionallyusedforscores,
evenafewhundreds,ofyears.Whenwelookintotheincrediblemosaicthatthe
Bible…theHebrewTanakh…fromYeshua’stimepresentsuswith,itlendssome
much-neededhelpwithrestoringoriginalunderstandingtosomeofthemore
difficultbutimportantpassagesandwordswehavebeenfacedwith.Onesuch
wordbeingelohim.
WhatIamsaying,then,isthatwithintraditionalChristianitythewaytheHebrew
termelohimhashistoricallybeenunderstoodandinterpreted(asGodandgods)
actuallyhasledusawayfromthemuchmorevividmeaningthatitheldtothe
writersoftheBibleandeventoChristandHisdisciples.Weknowthisbecauseof
thestudyofcognatewordsfromtheearlierlanguagesandbecausesomeof
thesewordshadbeenremovedandreplacedwithdifferentwordsbybiblical
editorssometimebetweenthe2
nd
centuryandthe10
th
centuryA.D.Becauseof
thetraditionalwayweautomaticallythinkoftheEnglishwordsGodandgodswe
areleftwithadilemmathatishandledeitherbyourignoringthescriptural
passagesinwhichwefindtheword“gods”,oralternatively,animplausibleand
biblicallyimpossibleexplanationisofferedinordertosootheusbybypassinga
truthwe’drathernothavetodealwith.
TheBibleonlyseemsirrationalorillogicaltousattimesbecauseofthemany
waystranslatorshavechosentointerpretwordsandmeanings,andthisis
Lesson11-AmosChapter6continued2
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largelyduetothemanymanmadedoctrinesthatinfluencedthose
interpretationsinthefirstplace.TheBibledoesn’tpresentitselftousin
camouflage.Weneednotfearwhatitsays.Itdoesn’tusehypothetical
comparisonsthatintheendareimpossibletooccurorareessentiallyhollowand
meaningless.Theissuethatcausesmostofourconfusionwhenthereadthe
BibleisnotbecausetheBibleisconfusing;itisbecauseweinsistonfilteringit
throughthelensofwhatevermodernculturewecurrentlylivein,andbecause
wehaveacceptedastruevastamountsofmanmadedoctrinesinordertouphold
well-entrenchedChurchandSynagogueagendas.Weinsertourmodernnotions
ofsociety,ofjusticeandmorals,ofgraceandmercy,andoftheexistenceor
non-existenceofaspirit-worldthatinnowaywerewhatthewritersoftheBible
thought.Weneedtoreorientourthinking;weneedtohumbleourselvesto
adjustourmodernEnlightenmenteramindsetstoacceptthebiblicallypresented
realityofawell-populated,complex,andhighlystructuredspirit-worldthatGod
createdBEFOREHecreatedthephysicalUniverseandpopulateditwithphysical
creatures.Aspirit-worldthattheancientsuniversallyaccepted,butinmore
moderntimesisrejectedasbutmyth,fantasyandlegendbelievedonlyby
ignorant,primitivepeople.TheChurch,notwantingtobeleftbehind,ortobe
seenasnutsorunintelligentbythesecularworld,hastendedtomodifyour
doctrinesinordertobemoreinlinewithsocietaltrendsandbeliefs.Theresults
arethatwehavesteadilydiminishedtherealitiesandeffectsoftheactual
spirit-worldanditscreaturesthattheBibletellsusaboutinfavorofsomething
watered-downthatismorepalatabletoasecularsocietythatreveressciencefar
morethanfaith.TheHolyScripturestellusunequivocallythatGodfirstcreated
aHeavenlysocietythatwould,intime,becomethepatternforthe
earthly/humansocietythatHealsowouldcreate.Thebiblicalrealityisthatthere
existsadichotomyofGod-createdHeavenlyandearthlysocietiesthatwere
structuredinthesamemold.LongagoIgavethisdichotomyaname:theReality
ofDuality.
Iconfesstoyouthatoverthe3decadesIhavebeenteaching,Ihavechanged
mymindonafewthings.EarlyonIgavetoo-littlecredencetoarobustspiritual
world,anddidnotchallengeoldChristiandoctrinesaboutcertaintroubling
biblicalpassagesthatspokeofothergods,orsonsofGod,orfallenangelsand
theirhybridoffspringcalledNephilim,oroftherealityofaHeavenlyassemblyof
powersandprincesthatincludedadivinerulingcounciltowhichGoddelegated
Lesson11-AmosChapter6continued2
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tasks.InevernoticedthatmanybeingsinHeavendisobeyedGodandthatGod
developedaplantodealwiththem.NotallwerecasttoearthaswasSatan.So,
ifyouhearafewthingsabitdifferentlyfromwhatyourheardinsomeofmy
teachingsfrommanyyearsago,pleaseallowthatevenanoldmancancontinue
tolearnnewthings.IfIcanreformatmythinkingonsomeseriousbiblical
mattersbecausethat’swherethetruthleads,thensocanyou.WhatIaskofyou
allistobelievewhattheBibleactuallysaysandnottodismissthatwhichyou
don’tunderstandortroublesyou,ortotwistit’smeaningbecause,asitiswritten,
itdoesn’tfitwhatthemodernworldsaysorwantstobelieve.
WhenwereadintheBibleaboutHeaven(andpreciouslittleissaidtousaboutit),
wefindthatthereareanumberofcategoriesofspiritbeingsthatresidethere.
Thereareangels,archangels,Seraphim,Cherubim,powersandprincipalities,
princes,adivinecouncil,andthereissomethingcalledelohim.Withouttryingto
preciselyaddresseveryleveloftheHeavenlysocietalstructure,itseemsthatthe
orderofitputstheangelsaspossiblythelowestspirit-beingsandYehovehasthe
highest,withalltheothersfallingsomewhereinbetween.Archangelsclearlyhad
authorityoverregularangelsandlikelygreaterpoweraswell.Seraphimand
Cherubimseemtobeahigherclassorspecialcategoryofspirit-beingthatis
eitheratthetopofthescaleforangelsorperhapstheyareaseparatecategory
altogetherthatisrankedslightlyhigherthanangels.Butthehighestcategoryof
spirit-beingseemstobetheelohim,whoasagroupformedthedivinecouncilor
atleastsomeofthemdid.And,someoftheelohimalsobecamerulersover
earthlynationsotherthanIsrael.Gentilenationshadoneoranotherofthese
elohimassignedtoruleoverthem,whileIsraelwasgiventhegreatest,
unprecedentedprivilegeofhavingtheMost-HighElohim,(God,Yehoveh)
Himselfastheirspirit-ruler.Further,accordingtotheBiblepassageswereadlast
week,theelohimwerealsotheleadingrulersovertheentirestructuredsociety
inHeaven.Yes,theyreceivedtheirmarchingordersfromYehoveh;butclearly
theelohimhadsufficientfree-willthatallowedthemenoughlatitudeand
freedomincarryingouttheirorders,suchthattheycouldactuallymakewrong
decisionsandeventodowrongthingsthatwereagainstGod’swill.Andtheyhad
thepowerandauthoritytocarryouteventhewrongthingstheyintendedtodo.
Doingthesewrongthingsmadethemcorrupted,andsoYehovehjudgedthose
amongthedisobedientandrebelliouselohimtoforgolivingastheeternal
spirit-beingstheywerecreatedtobe,butinsteadtheywoulddielikemortal
Lesson11-AmosChapter6continued2
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humans.IsthatnotessentiallywhathappenedtoAdamandEve,andtherefore
toallmankindthatfollowed?Myfriends,wehumanswereintendedtobethe
earthlyversionoftheHeavenlyelohim.Wewereoriginallyintendedtolive
eternallivesandnottoexperiencedecayanddeath.IsthatnotwhatGod’sWord
tellsus?Let’sgoagaintotheBookofGenesis.
CJB
Genesis1:26ThenGodsaid,"Letusmakehumankindinourimage,inthe
likenessofourselves;andletthemruleoverthefishinthesea,thebirdsinthe
air,theanimals,andoveralltheearth,andovereverycrawlingcreaturethat
crawlsontheearth."
InHeaven,theelohim(whoformedYehoveh’sdivinecouncil)weretoruleover
God’sHeavenlysphere.Onearth,humans(whowereformedinsimilarlikeness
ofpurposetothedivinecouncilofelohim)weretoruleoverGod’searthlysphere.
Godisabovetheelohimandabovemankind.Theelohimandwehumanswere
meanttoruleoveralltheothercreaturesGodcreated,withinoursimilarbut
separatedominions.Thecreaturesweweretoruleoverwerecreatedlesserthan
weareinstatusandability,whetherspirit-beingsintheHeavenlysphereor
physicalbeingsintheearthlysphere.Nevertheless,theselessercreaturesare
alsovaluableandlovedbyGod.Unfortunately,manyofthoseGod-created
elohimthatweremeanttoruleovertheHeavenlysphereinsteadrebelled(we
readthatinPsalm82).ThesamethinghappenedonearthwhenAdamandEve…
whoGodhadcreatedtoruleoverthelessercreaturesontheearthlysphere…
rebelled.Andso,theywerethrown-outofEdenandleftascorruptedrulers.I’ll
sayagain:theBibletellsusthattheruleofatleastsomeoftheelohimhad
becomecorruptedandsodidtheruleofhumansbecomecorrupted.Nowwhat?
Inonesense,theBibleisallaboutGodworkingtorestorethisdisaster.Onearth,
itisallaboutrestoringEden.
ThiscomparisonIjustmadebetweenHeavenandearthandthecreaturesthat
inhabiteachisnotfantasynorisitmetaphor;itisreal.RealenoughthatChrist
madethisstatementthatissimplynotdiscernableifwedon’tfirstunderstand
andacceptthereality,aswellasthetrueroleandnature,oftheelohim…those
spirit-beingsthatourEnglishBiblescallgodsbutratheroughttobecalleddivine
beings.
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CJB
John10:31-36
31
OnceagaintheJudeanspickeduprocksinordertostone
him.
32
Yeshuaansweredthem,"Youhaveseenmedomanygooddeedsthat
reflecttheFather'spower;forwhichoneofthesedeedsareyoustoningme?"
33
TheJudeansreplied,"Wearenotstoningyouforanygooddeed,butfor
blasphemy-becauseyou,whoareonlyaman,aremakingyourselfouttobeGod
<N1>."
34
Yeshuaansweredthem,"Isn'titwritteninyourTorah,'Ihavesaid,
"YoupeopleareElohim'"?
35
Ifhecalled'elohim'thepeopletowhomthewordof
Elohimwasaddressed(andtheTanakhcannotbebroken),
36
thenareyoutelling
theonewhomtheFathersetapartasholyandsentintotheworld,'Youare
committingblasphemy,'justbecauseIsaid,'IamasonofElohim'?
MostEnglishBiblessay:“Isn’titwritteninyourLaw:‘Ihavesaidyouaregods’?”
Isn’tthatalittlestartlingtohear?YeshuasaysHeisquotingwhathasalready
beenwritten;Heisquotingscripture.WhatdoesHemeanbysaying“youare
gods”?IntheNewTestamentgodsisanEnglishwordthatistranslatedfrom
theGreekwordtheos.AstandardGreeklexiconwillexplainthattheosisa
generalnameforallmannerofdeitiesanddivinities.Yet,eventhoughtheoldest
GospelmanuscriptsthatwehaveareallwritteninGreek,wemustremember
thatwhileGreekwasthelanguageused,itwasnonethelessJewishcultural
mindset,history,andtheologythatwasbeingexpressed.Sinceweknowthat
JesuswasquotingPsalm82thenwealsoknowthatwhatHeactuallysaidtothe
JudeanswhowereabouttostoneHimwas:“Ihavesaidthatyouareelohim”.
Hecertainlydidn’tmean“gods”inthewayChristianityandmostoftheworld
thinksofthatterm.Ifweremovetheconceptof“gods”fromourminds,and
insteadthinkoftheelohimasaspecialhighclassofspirit-being,thenthepoint
HewasmakingwasthatjustasinHeaventheelohimweretobetherulingclass
overallHeavenlyspiritbeings,soonearthhumansweretobetherulingclassof
physicalbeings…humansasearthlyelohim,ifyouwould...rulingoverallthe
otherclassesoflesserphysicalcreatures(theanimalkingdom).
YeshuafurthersHisargumentbysayingthatifGodsaystocertaindivinebeings
thattheyaresonsofGod(sonsoftheMost-HighElohim),andtheseJudeans
beratingJesusseemtohavenotroublewiththatconcept,thenwhydotheyhave
aproblemwithYeshuasayingthatHeisasonoftheMost-HighElohim?Thatis,
itistheFather(Yehoveh)whodeterminessuchstatusofHiscreatedcreatures,
andnotmeremennorevenotherHeavenlybeings.Theimplicationthatcan
Lesson11-AmosChapter6continued2
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bypassusisthatitwasagiventhattheJewsunderstoodandacceptedthatthe
elohimweresonsofGodinHeavenandofcoursetheywererealandexisted.
Therefore,allthatbeingtrue,iftheFathersentYeshuaasasonofElohimto
earth,thenwhatcausedotheyhaveforsayingHemustbeblaspheming?
Thereissomuchmorewecouldgointoconcerningthismatterofunderstanding
thetermelohimandthereasonsforacceptingtherobustspirit-worldthatbegan
itsexistencepriortotheCreationoftheUniverse,butweneedtostopandreturn
toAmos.Theconclusionofthediscussiontothispoint,then,is:ifwe’regoingto
taketheBibleseriouslyandnottrytorationalizeittomakeitfitourmodern
enlightenedscientificmindset,ortotrytopounditintothemoldofmanmade
Churchdoctrinesthatcannotpossiblytoleratearobustspirit-worldfullofvarious
levelsandkindsofdivinebeings,thenwe’llneverunderstandthemeaningand
intentionsofthepeoplewhowrotetheBible…becausetheyDIDbelieveinsucha
worldandwrotewithinthatcontext.ThewritersoftheBiblewerenotwrongin
whattheybelieved;wearewrongwhenwedismissit.Merelydelvingintothe
truemeaningofthewordelohimopensanewrealmforustoexplorethatgives
uswonderfulnewinsightsanddeepensourfaith,ifwe’llonlybeopentoit.
Armedwiththisnewknowledgeaboutthetermelohim,let’smovebacktoAmos
chapter6,andresumeatverse8.We’llstartbyrereadingthepassage.
RE-READAMOSCHAPTER6:8–end
Thisliteraryunitthatconcludeschapter6isallaboutadevastatingmilitary
defeatthatIsraelisgoingtosufferinthenearterm.ItopenswiththeHebrew
expression“Yehovehhassworn”.Thisexpressionisused3timesintheBible;
andeverytimeitisusedtopronouncejudgmentoveradisobedientpeopleor
nation.ThewaythisverseoughttobetranslatedintoEnglish,awaythatmost
capturesitsimageandintentthattheancientswouldhaveheardandunderstood,
issomethinglikethis:TheLordYehovehhasswornbyHimself,Yehoveh
Most-Highdivinebeingofhostshasdeclared:"IloathethearroganceofJacob,
AndIdetesthiscitadels;Therefore,Iwilldeliverupthecityandallitcontains."
Recallingwhatwelearnedearliertoday,whiletheothernationshadotherelohim
assignedtoruleoverthem,theMost-HighElohim(Yehoveh)personallyruled
Lesson11-AmosChapter6continued2
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overIsrael.IsraelwasYehoveh’sspecialprojectthroughwhichrestorationofthe
world…thereturnofEden…wouldoccur.Hedidnottrustthismostimportantof
taskstoanyotherthanHimself.AndnowthatIsraelhasrebelledagainstHim,
YehovehwilldealwiththeminawaythatbothpunishesIsraelaswellaskicking
theballfurthertowardsthegoalofrestoration.
WhenYehovehsaysthatHeloathestheprideofJacob,thisisreferringtothe
arroganceofthepeoplewhodefyYehovehbybelievingsostronglyintheir
militarytodefendthem,becauseatthemomenttheireconomicconditionwas
oneofgreatabundance.Inotherwords,Israelbelievesitisbytheirownbrilliant
economicstrategiesthattheyareawealthynation,andthereforeitwillbeby
theirownequallybrilliantmilitarystrategiesanddefensivefortressesthatmakes
themnearlyinvinciblefromattack.Thisattitudehasdevelopedovermany
decadesoftheirmovingawayfromtheTorah,andintodevelopingnew
manmadedoctrinestolivebyandtoworshipby.Theyfeellikethey’vehad
nothingbutsuccess,sohowcouldtheypossiblybewrongintheirbeliefsand
behavior?
Letmeputthisinperspective.In1996theAmericanFederalReserveChairman
AllanGreenspanlookedataloomingeconomicdisaster(thencalledthe“dotcom
bubble”),wonderingwhythefinancialworldwasactinglikeitwasnotthere,as
obviousasitwastoanyclearthinker.Hetermedthismassobliviousnessof
investorsandbankersandcorporateexecutivestotheoncomingtrainwreckas
“irrationalexuberance”.Ourfinancialsystemwasridinghigh,moneywasflowing
likeanendlessriver,peopleweregettingricher,thisnewthingcalledThe
Internetwasspawningnewandsuccessfulbusinessesdaily,anditseemedthat
ourentirefinancialandeconomicsystemhadhitsomenever-before-seenlevel
ofhuman-devisedbrillianceandacumenthatdefiedalllogic.Greenspandidhis
besttowarnpeoplethatitwasallamirage;disasterwasnear.Hewarnedfolks
thatthejoyovertheirgoodfortune,andthereasonsforit,andtheirdecisions
goingforwardtokeepdoingthesamethings,were“irrational”withthereality.
He,ofcourse,wasright-onbecauseitwassoobvious.ThisiswhatGodwas
sayingthatIsraelwasdoing.Jacob’spridewasIsrael’seraofirrational
exuberance.
Lesson11-AmosChapter6continued2
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Byusingtheterm“Jacob”,Yehovehisindicatingthatall12tribesofIsraelare
guilty.AlthoughAmoshasbeenaimedsquarelyatthe10tribesof
Ephraim/Israel,the2tribesofJudaharenowaddedtothemix.Thetimingofthe
comingcalamityisnotdiscussed,butweknowfromhistorythatfirstEphraimfell
totheAssyriansin723B.C.,andthenaround130yearslater,Judahwouldfallto
theBabylonians.
Verse9isessentiallyanexpressionofthecompletenessofthedevastationthat
Israelwillexperience.Thenotionaboutthe10peopleinonehousehas
sometimesbeensaidtobeaboutaminyan(thesmallestJewishprayergroup
allowed),orthatitwasthesmallestunitofanarmyorganization.Ithinkthat’s
astretch.Rathertheideaisthateventhoughafterthebruntoftheinvasionhas
beenfaced,andthecitywallsbreached,shouldeven10people(survivors)
huddletogetherinasinglehouse,theenemywilldiscoverthemandkillthemall.
Nooneshouldholdoutanyhopeofsurvivalbecauseiftheydecidetostay,the
invader’skillingmachinewillberuthlesslyefficient.
Verse10peelstheonionbackyetanotherlayer.Whileverse9talkedabout10
survivors,verse10drillsdowntothesingleindividuallevel.Afictionalnarrative,
kindofashortstory,isgiventomakeGod’spoint.Thekinofadeceasedperson
comestotakecareofthecorpse,evenifonlytoburnthebodyupwithoutallthe
usualburialandmourningrituals,becauseoftheextenuatingcircumstances.
Whilelookingthroughtherubbleofthehousewherethebodywasfound,hecalls
out“isanyoneherethatisalive?”Hehearsasinglevoice,andasksthatvoice“is
thereanyoneelse?”.Thesurvivorsays“no”.Next,themanwhohadcometo
fetchhiskin’sbodysayssomethinginresponsethatcanbepuzzling.Hetellsthe
survivortobequietbecausethenameofYehovehshouldnotbespoken.There
areafewdifferentwaysthisstorycanbelookedat,somemoreplausiblethan
others.OnepopularwayintheJewishworld…whichhastodowithanointinga
corpsewithresin(thatis,notburningitup)…istryingtoreadbackintoAmos
somethingthatwaswrittenaboutsuchsituationsintheMishnaicera.The
MishnaicerarunsfromaroundthetimeofChristtoabout220A.D.Sincethis
prophecyinAmoswaswrittenaround800ormoreyearsearlierthanthat,Ifind
itnotplausibletoapplyarcanerulestakenfromtheMishna(RabbinicLaw)as
thoughitwouldhavebeenineffectinAmos’sera.Ithinkitismorelikelythat
thosewordsmeanthatoncethishorribledisasterfinallydoeshappen,and
Lesson11-AmosChapter6continued2
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peopleofnow-decimatedIsraelgetitthatYehovehdidexactlywhatHesaidHe’d
do,thenYehovehneededtobefearedmoreasadeadlyenemythanasthe
formerlybenevolentGodHeusedtobe.Therefore,inthemidstofallthismisery
anddeath,thekinwhoiscombingthroughtheruinsofhisnephew’shouse,tells
thelonesurvivortostoptalkinginfearofattractingYehoveh’sattention.
Everythingconsidered,noIsraeliteintheirrightmindoughttobe“callingonthe
nameofYehoveh”becauseHejustmighthear,andcomeandfinishhimoff!
SurvivorswouldbewisertostayawayfromaclearlyangryYehovehfornow.
Verse11essentiallycompletesdescribingthepanoramicscaleofthecalamity
thatleavesnothingandnooneuntouched.Itreferstotheindividualhousesof
thecitiesofEphraimthemselves.Thegreathouses(themansionsoftherich)as
wellasthelittlehouses(thesmall,plainresidencesoftheordinarycitizens)will
allbedestroyed.And,asthebeginningoftheversecontinuestohammeraway,
itisindeedYehoveh,Israel’sElohim,thatiscommandingandoverseeingthis
catastrophe…everyelementofit.
Verse12beginsapassagethatspeakstothemoraloutragethatIsraelhas
become.Theopeningwordsarearhetoricalquestionthatcommonsensebegs
theanswer“NO!”to,butyetIsraelrespondswithsuchlackofcommonsense
thatperhapstheybelievetheanswershouldbe“YES!”.The2questionsare
intendedtobeabsurdintheextremeinordertoemphasizethecomplete
foolishnessofIsrael’sbehaviortowardsYehoveh;howwarpedtheirmindshave
become.Godasks,canahorsegallopacrossabarerockformation?Canyou
connectapairofoxentoaplough,andcutfurrowsthroughsolidrock?The
obviousansweristhatitwouldbelaughableforanyonetothink,letalone
attempt,suchinherentlystupidthings.Yet,insimilarstupidityandfoolishness,
IsraeltookGod’spreciselydeviseddivinejusticesystemandre-formeditinto
theirownmoldwiththeresultthattheyessentiallyturnedsomethingthat
protectedlifeintosomethingdeadly.TheyturnedGod’sperfectmoralsystemof
delightfulrighteousnessintosomethingflawed,wicked,harshandbitter
(wormwood)bypervertingitwiththeirownthoughtsofjustice,mercyand
morality.Itisallsoobvious,yetIsraelhasbecomesodeeplydeceivedthat
theycan’tseewhattheyhavedone,norcantheyacknowledgethedisastrous
resultsoftheirmanmadedoctrinesthatessentiallyguttedtheLawofMoses.But
worse,theroadbacktosanitysitsrightbeforethemandtheyrefusetogetonit.
Lesson11-AmosChapter6continued2
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PerhapstheprimaryreasonIdecidedtoteachaseriesontheMinorProphetswas
becausetheyofferagoodplatformtorecognizetheconditionofourworldtoday,
andanillustrationofwhatwecanreasonablyexpectGodtodoinresponse.But
theonethingtheProphetsdidn’thavetodealwithwaspeoplewhodidn’tbelieve
inanygodatall.Youknow,therearemanyfine,braveBelieverswhotakethe
timetodebatewithAtheistsinhopetheymightsaveone.Iamnotoneofthose
folks.Ihavenopatienceforit.ThenotionthatthereisnoGodandthatthe
Universe,humanity,animallife,andconsciousnessarepurelyaccidentaland
randomissoovertlyabsurdandblatantlyfoolishinitselfindicatesacomplete
intellectualandspiritualbarriertoanythinganyonecouldoffertopersuadethem
otherwise.Ijustcan’tbringmyselftowastemytimetalkingtotheintentionally
andperpetuallydumbwhoseriouslybelievesuchnonsense,whenthereareso
manywhoareseekingGodbutdon’tknowwheretolook.It’slikePaulsaid:
CJB
Romans1:20Foreversincethecreationoftheuniversehisinvisible
qualities-bothhiseternalpowerandhisdivinenature-havebeenclearlyseen,
becausetheycanbeunderstoodfromwhathehasmade.Therefore,theyhave
noexcuse.
LongbeforePaul,wereadinPsalm19thesameobviousconclusionthatall
rationalthinkingpeopleoughttoarriveat:
CJB
Psalm19:2TheheavensdeclarethegloryofGod,thedomeofthesky
speakstheworkofhishands.
Today,wearedealingwithanotherissuetheProphetsdidn’thavetocontend
with.Itisthelatest(andmaybetheworst)moraloutrageofmankind;it’sthe
thingcalledgenderidentity,whichincludestheideasthatthereareseveralmore
gendersthanonlymaleandfemaleandthatwhatevergenderwethinkweare,
ordecidetobe,islegitimatelywhatweare.Therealityofgenderasfixedfrom
thewombandconsistingofbut2hasbeensobasic,self-evidentandobvious
sincethetimeofAdamandEve…untilabout20yearsago…thatanyonewho
mighthaveevenbroughtitupwouldhavebeenlaughedoutofthebuilding(as
theyshouldhavebeen).Butsuddenly,someself-absorbed,so-called
intellectualshavedecidedthathumanityandGod(shouldtheybelieveoneexists)
Lesson11-AmosChapter6continued2
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havebeenwronguntilnow,andtheyknowbetter.Thedefiningbiologythat
starestheminthefaceeverytimetheylookdownintheshowermeansnothing
tothem.WeevenhaveasittingSupremeCourtjusticethathonestlysaidand
meantthatsincesheisn’taprofessionalbiologist,shedoesn’tknowhowtotell
ifapersonisawoman!
ThisdeviantmindsetisexactlywhatGodisdescribingtoopenverse12.Whatis
ludicrous,preposterous,andultimatelyself-destructiveisactuallyandsincerely
believedtobetruebysomebecausethosewhobelieveithavelosttheircommon
sensealongwiththeirmorality.Thosewhobelievesuchwildlyirrationalthings
alsocan’tcompartmentalizeittojustoneareaoftheirlivesortheirthoughts;it
radiatesoutwardlikeanexplodingstar;affectingandinfectingeverythingthey
encounteranddo.Godtaughttruth,Hegaveproofsofit,Hepled,Hewarnedand
Hethreatened;HetriedeverythingtogetIsraeltopull-offtheblindersof
deceptiontheyhadwillinglyplacedovertheirowneyes.Theyrefusedtoheed
Himandinsteaddoubled-downintheirrebellion.
Folks,whensomeonegetstothepointofimmoralitythatevenGod-givengender
isnolongerconsideredasdiscernableorabsolute,itgetsnomoredegradingand
wicked.Theyhavesunktothebottomofthepit.Iacknowledgethatenough
damagehasbeendonebythosegodlesswhoproclaimthisnonsensethatitmay
alreadybetoolate,stillit’stimethatGod’speoplewokeupandspokeupagainst
thisoutrage.Weneedtostandupandnotbeafraid.Weneedtoquitthinking
thatgoodfollowersofChristshouldnotopenlyspeakoutortakeactiontooppose
it.ThatmeeknessofsilencethatsomanyBelieversareproudofandthinkit
Godly,IcontendiseitheraprofoundmisunderstandingofScripture,orjustas
likelyisreallyonlyafrontforpersonalcowardice.Foranyofus….Pastor,Rabbi,
orlayman…tobesilentinthefaceoftheworstimmoralityournationhasever
knownisunacceptable.IstheWordofGodnotclearenoughonwhathappensto
thosewhocandosomethingtofightimmoralitybutinsteadsitontheirhands,
thinkingitmoreGodlytodonothing?Thatsamesilencehasopenedwidea
formerlyprotecteddoorthathasallowedeventheChurchtobecomedeeply
infectedwiththesamespiritofimmoralityandevilthatisinfectingtheentire
planet.ChurchsplitafterChurchsplitishappeningovertheseasinineissuesthat
aresoclearlyspokenaboutinGod’sWord,asifGodhasgiveneveryBelieveran
optiontochoosehoweverheorsheprefers.Weshouldnot…andIwillnot…
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toleratesuchblatantrebellionagainstGodinmyfamily,mycommunity,my
congregation,ormynation,byremainingsilent.Andno,Ialsowillnotspendmy
timeseekingoutswineinordertocastthempearls.Iwillnotspendenergytotry
topersuadeafullyandhappilydeceivedadultpersonwhomocksGodinsucha
waythattheyaredeceived,becausetheyhavenoexcuseforit.Theyhave
willfullychosentoacceptliesovertruth;immoralityovermorality.WillIpray
thatthosewhoaredeceivedhavetheireyesopened?WillIgladlyspeaklifeto
youngimpressionablepeopleandtrytopersuadethemagainstadoptingthe
genderconfusionthatsomuchofourpopulationnowcelebratesasintelligent
andgood?Mostassuredly.ButourdutyistospeakGod’struthtothosewhose
earsareopentohearingit;andnottryingtoconvincethosewhoareclosed.Itis
alsoourdutytospeaktruthinlove,andtonotallowsuchrecklessimmorality
intoourlives,orintoourfamiliesorcommunityaccordingtosomeworldlysense
ofmanmade-designedmercyandjusticeandloveandchoicethatiscompletely
countertoGod’s.
Wehaveessentiallythesamethingsgoingonrightnow,beforeoureyes,andfor
thesamereasons,thatAmosisprophesyingaboutmorethan2700yearsago.
Let’smoveon.
Thebackgroundforverse13is2Kings14.
CJB
2Kings14:25HerecoveredtheterritoryofIsra'elbetweentheentranceof
Hamatandtheseaofthe'Aravah,inkeepingwiththewordofADONAItheGod
ofIsra'el,whichhespokethroughhisservantYonahthesonofAmitai,the
prophetfromGat-Hefer.
ThisisspeakingaboutKingJeroboam’sattackofterritoryontheeastsideofthe
JordanRiver.AbettertranslationofAmos6:13is:
NAS
Amos6:13YouwhorejoiceinLodebar,Andsay,"Havewenotbyourown
strengthtakenKarnaimforourselves?"
ItseemsthatforAmos,Jeroboam’sconquestofthese2citieshadnothingtodo
withwhatGodwanted.Therefore,Jeroboamandhispeoplelookedupontheir
joyfulmilitaryvictoryandpromptlypattedthemselvesontheirbacksfortheir
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brilliance,andgaveGodnogloryorcreditforitatall.Thatis,thisisallabout
exposingEphraim/Israel’shistoryofpride,self-confidence,andignoring
Yehovehallthewhileofferingaphonypiousness.Amoswasnotimpressedand
neitherwasYehoveh.
So,despitehowwonderfulandintelligentandself-reliantIsraelmightthink
themselves,verse14hasYehovehtellingthemthatHeisgoingtoriseupa
nationthatwillinvadethemandthattheinvaderswillsucceed.Thisunnamed
conquerorwilloffsetanyterritorialgainsIsraelhasmadeinthepast.Israelwill
notbeallowedtoretainthatterritorywhichGodhadnotdeterminedforthemto
have.
TheplaceofHamathwastheboundaryofIsrael’snorthernmostterritoryatthis
time,whiletheWadiArabahwasthesouthernmostboundary.So,thementionof
these2placesistomakeitclearthatEphraimwillloseallofitsterritoryincluding
theterritoryGodallocatedtothemlongagowhenJoshualedIsraelintothe
PromisedLand;nothingofEphraim/Israelwillremain.
IwanttocloseoutAmoschapter6withthisthought.OverafewdecadesIsrael
hadcompletelydestroyedtheGod-ordainedorderandmoralitytheyhadbeen
taughttoliveby.ChaosandconfusionresultedbuttotheIsraeliteseverything
seemedfineandthepeoplefeltconfidentandself-satisfied.YettoYehoveh,
everythingwaswrongwithIsraelitesociety;theirvalues,theirvirtues,their
customsandhabitshadallchangedfortheworse.Underlyingitallwasthatthe
peopleofIsraelforgotthattheyhadmadeacovenantwithYehoveh,the
Most-HighElohim.Theyturnedtheirbacksonthatcovenantbyrefusingto
complywithitsagreed-totermsandyetfullyexpectedthatGodwouldcarry
throughwithHisendofthebargaindespitetheirbadbehavior.Despitetheir
blatantapostacyandrebellion,stilltheyraisedtheirhandstowardsHeavenand
claimedthattheywereobedientandloyaltoYehoveh.Godsaidno,you’renot,
andnowyou’llbetreatedasenemies.
AsBelievers,wemustnotforgetthatwhenweturnedtoYeshuaweeachmade
acovenant…orbetter,throughYeshuajoinedIsrael’scovenant…withYehoveh,
GodofIsrael.Nowthateachofusarejoinedtothatcovenant,weareindividually
obligatedtoitstermsandthereareconsequencesforbreakingthoseterms.Are
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youbeingobedienttothecovenant?Becauseifyou’renot,eventhoughyou
claimloyaltytoYehoveh,whywouldn’tyouexpecttohearfromtheLordthe
samethingIsraelheard:“No,you’renot”?
We’lltakeupchapter7nexttime.