How does Amos 7:14 illustrate God's call to ordinary people for His purposes? Setting the Scene - Amos ministered during the prosperous reign of Jeroboam II in the northern kingdom of Israel (Amos 1:1). - Religion was thriving outwardly, yet injustice and idolatry abounded. - Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, tried to silence Amos (Amos 7:10-13). Verse 14 is Amos’ response. The Testimony of Amos 7:14 “I was not a prophet, nor was I the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman, and a tender of sycamore figs.” What the Verse Reveals - No prophetic pedigree: Amos had no formal training or family lineage in ministry. - Ordinary occupations: • Herdsman – tending sheep and goats, a humble rural job. • Tender of sycamore figs – labor-intensive seasonal work, pinching fruit to ripen it. - Divine interruption: God stepped into everyday life and redirected Amos to proclaim judgment and hope. God’s Pattern of Calling Ordinary People - Moses, shepherd turned deliverer (Exodus 3). - Gideon, threshing wheat in hiding (Judges 6). - David, youngest son watching sheep (1 Samuel 16). - Elisha, plowing his field (1 Kings 19:19-21). - Peter, Andrew, James, John, fishing partners called at their nets (Luke 5:1-11). - Matthew, tax collector at his booth (Matthew 9:9). God’s consistent method underscores that position or pedigree never limit His purposes. Why God Chooses the Ordinary - To display His power, not human credentials (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). - To exalt humility and obedience over status (James 4:6). - To ensure the message, not the messenger, receives the spotlight (2 Corinthians 4:7). - To invite every believer into His redemptive work (Ephesians 2:10). Living Out the Lesson Today - Your workplace can be your mission field; God still calls teachers, engineers, farmers, parents. - Skills developed in “secular” labor become tools in God’s hand—communication, diligence, courage. - Obedience outweighs eloquence. Amos simply spoke what God showed him (Amos 3:8). - Expect opposition. Amaziah’s resistance foreshadows ours, yet God vindicates His servants (Galatians 1:10). - Discernment matters: measure every call by Scripture’s truth, just as Amos’ words aligned with the Law and the prophets. Key Takeaways • God delights in commissioning everyday people. • A surrendered heart is the single qualifying credential. • Where you start—herding sheep or stocking shelves—need not determine where God sends you. • Faithfulness in ordinary tasks readies you for extraordinary assignments. |
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