What can we learn about intercessory prayer from Amos 7:6? The Text (Amos 7:6) “So the LORD relented from this outcome. ‘This will not happen either,’ said the Lord GOD.” Setting the Scene - Amos receives two successive visions of judgment (locusts and consuming fire, vv. 1–5). - Each time, he cries out, “Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive, for he is so small?” (v. 2; cf. v. 5). - God answers the prayer of His prophet and withholds the threatened calamity—twice. Core Lessons on Intercessory Prayer • God really listens. The word “relented” shows He responds personally, not mechanically, to heartfelt pleas (cf. Jeremiah 18:8). • One faithful intercessor can alter national destiny. Amos stands alone, yet heaven shifts. Compare Moses in Exodus 32:11–14 and Abraham in Genesis 18:22–33. • Intercession is rooted in compassion. Amos appeals to God’s mercy, not Israel’s merit (“Jacob is so small”). • God’s default is mercy, not destruction. When someone asks Him to spare, He gladly does so (Ezekiel 33:11). • Persistence matters. Amos prays after the first vision and again after the second; God relents both times (Luke 18:1–8). • Prayer partners with God’s purposes. The Lord had revealed the vision to invite Amos’ response (Amos 3:7). • Intercessory prayer stands between judgment and people, echoing Christ’s ultimate mediation (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25). Practical Take-Home Applications - Ask boldly. God welcomes specific petitions for people, churches, and nations. - Stand in the gap even when you feel “so small.” Influence is spiritual, not numerical. - Appeal to God’s character—His mercy, covenant love, and faithfulness. - Pray until release comes. Amos kept praying until God said, “This will not happen.” - Expect real-world change. Prayer is not therapy; it moves the hand of God. New Testament Echoes • “The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.” (James 5:16) • “If you ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14) • Jesus teaches persistence and confidence in prayer (Matthew 7:7–11; Luke 11:5–13). Encouragement for Today What God did for Amos, He still does for every believer who steps between judgment and people who need mercy. Intercede, and watch the Lord say, “This will not happen,” in response to your prayerful faith. |
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