Religious Opposition

Reading: Amos 7:10-15

Amos 7:10–15 ESV

10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos has said, “ ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.’ ” 12 And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there, 13 but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.” 14 Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. 15 But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’

Prayer

The Greatest Opposition to God’s Work Often Comes from Those Who Claim to Represent God

They Slander True Prophets

Amos 7:10 ESV

10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words.

Conspiracy! The priest immediately jumped to the wrong conclusions. There is no room for nuance.

They Malign True Prophets

Amos 7:11 ESV

11 For thus Amos has said, “ ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.’ ”

Not only do they make false claims about God’s true prophets, these folks also take the prophet’s own words and twist them.

They Chastise True Prophets

Amos 7:12–13 ESV

12 And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there, 13 but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.”

How Can God’s People Endure Opposition?

Remember Who Called You

Amos 7:14–15 ESV

14 Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. 15 But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’

Who was Amos? He says he was a herdsman and dresser of sycamore figs. He was a shepherd and farmer, a “salt of the earth” kind of fellow. Until God called him.

Amos says in verse 15, “But the LORD took me…the LORD said to me...” In effect, Amos says, “I don’t belong here, but God put me here. He called me, so here I am!”

What makes you who you are, child of God, is God himself. He made you, forming you in your mother’s womb. He hand-crafted you, gave you all the gifts and abilities and talents you have. He gave you that disposition and those personality traits that make you unique. And he, God, is the one who called you to him. God called you. Never forget that!

Remember What You’re Called to Do

Amos 7:15 ESV

15 But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’

Amos had been called by God. What was that call? Prophesy. Notice that he was called to prophesy, so he did. He doesn’t run away. He remembers his calling and acts on it.

God has called you to do something. Maybe that something isn’t full-time ministry, but that doesn’t mean you are useless or worthless for him. God has a purpose for you. Remember what you are called to do.

It’s not enough just to remember your calling, you’ve actually got to...

Do What You’re Called to Do!

Amos 7:16–17 ESV

16 Now therefore hear the word of the Lord. “You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.’ 17 Therefore thus says the Lord: “ ‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided up with a measuring line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.’ ”

Amos declares what God says. He doesn’t mince words or beat around the bush. He doesn’t sugar-coat things. He doesn’t make it more palatable or try to placate the priest by changing anything. He stands firm on the truth of God’s Word. The priest’s family will suffer, and both he and his people Israel will see exile.

Notice though that Amos doesn’t rub it in. He doesn’t go beyond God’s Word and say things like, “And then I’ll laugh at your misfortune” or “that’ll show you!” He simply and directly confronts the priest with the truth.

What if you don’t know what you’re called to do? What if you are questioning whether God has a calling for you? He does!

Start with the basics: all of us are called to love God with all of our being and to love our neighbors. Every one of us is called to that. Remember what you’re called to do and do it!

All of us are called to be faithful stewards of all God has given to us. Remember what you’re called to do and do it!

All of us are called to proclaim the gospel to others around us, whether family, friends, neighbors, or others. Remember what you’re called to do and do it!

Let me say this one more thing: when you are speaking truth, you don’t have to gloat or sugar-coat. Just speak truth and let God handle it from there. When you stand firm on the truth, you will not always “win,” but it’s not your job to win. It’s God’s. Your job is to serve God faithfully. To remember who called you, to what you have been called, and to stand firm in the truth. That’s how you handle religious opposition. Or any opposition, for that matter.