Connect Amos 7:5 with other biblical examples of intercession and their outcomes. Intercession in Amos 7:5 “Then I said, ‘Lord GOD, please stop! How will Jacob survive, for he is so small?’ ” • Amos sees a vision of consuming fire (7:4). • He steps in between judgment and Israel, pleading for mercy. • Verse 6 records the LORD’s answer: “So the LORD relented from this plan. ‘It will not happen either,’ said the Lord GOD.” A Thread Woven Through Scripture The prophet’s cry fits a consistent pattern—God’s people step in, God listens, and destinies shift. • Abraham for Sodom – Genesis 18:23-32 – Outcome: God agrees to spare the city if ten righteous are found. • Moses after the golden calf – Exodus 32:11-14 – Outcome: “So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened.” • Moses at Kadesh-barnea – Numbers 14:13-20 – Outcome: Nation spared immediate destruction; next generation enters Canaan. • Samuel at Mizpah – 1 Samuel 7:8-10 – Outcome: Philistines routed, peace restored. • David during the plague – 2 Samuel 24:17-25 – Outcome: “The LORD answered the prayers… and the plague on Israel was stopped.” • Hezekiah for an unprepared congregation – 2 Chronicles 30:18-20 – Outcome: “The LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.” • Elijah on Carmel – 1 Kings 18:36-39 – Outcome: Fire falls, hearts turn back, drought ends. • Jesus for Peter – Luke 22:31-32 – Outcome: Peter is restored and strengthens his brothers. • Jesus on the cross – Luke 23:34 – Outcome: Centurion confesses, thief enters paradise, grace offered to all. • Stephen for his killers – Acts 7:60 – Outcome: Seeds of Saul’s conversion, the gospel spreads. • The Spirit and the Son for believers – Romans 8:26; Hebrews 7:25 – Outcome: Ongoing help “to the uttermost.” What Happens When Someone Steps In • Divine judgment is tempered by mercy. • Nations, cities, and individuals receive space to repent. • God’s glory is displayed in both justice and compassion. • Intercessors grow in intimacy with the Lord who hears. Shared Ingredients of Effective Intercession 1. A clear revelation of looming judgment. 2. A heart that feels the weight of others’ weakness (“for he is so small”). 3. Bold, specific requests—“please stop.” 4. Alignment with God’s covenant purposes. 5. Persistence until God speaks a fresh word. Living the Lesson • Scripture’s record is literal; these outcomes actually happened and show God’s readiness to respond today. • The same Lord who “relented” for Amos still “desires mercy” (Hosea 6:6). • When we see impending discipline—whether in a family, church, or nation—our first move is not despair but earnest, Scripture-saturated pleading. • Because Jesus “always lives to intercede” (Hebrews 7:25), every believer can join Him, expecting real, history-shaping answers. |
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