Amos 9:11-15
"Israel's Restoration"
So, at the end of 8 1/2 chapters of prophesying mostly destruction on Israel, Amos leaves with a last little message from God.
God will restore Israel, rebuild it "as it used to be." He will overthrow the last of Israel's enemies and rule over the lands that bear His name (i.e. all of them, in the end).
Amos then begins to prophesy plenty on Israel. Plenty! in contrast to years of drought and famine... Amos even says that the reaper will overtake the ploughman - crops will be ready to harvest before they're planted! how amazing is that! (even if it's only figurative speech (i believe God can very easily do it, though), it's still amazing). He will then bring back exiled Israel into their own and, never to be removed again!
Is this not amazing? God is promising to restore Israel to its former glory... and more! But wait, there's more...
Israel doesn't just mean Israel and the Jews. now, in light of the sacrifice of Christ in the new testament, it means us! God says that He will gather us into a restored, renewed and improved Israel where there will be plenty of plenty, the enemies will exist no more, the Lord will reign and IT WILL NEVER END!
How amazing is that! that through Christ's death and atonement for our sins we can spend an eternity in glory, in plenty, in Christ's presence! No wonder Paul says "to live is Christ, to die is gain" we have the ultimate win-win situation! there is no fear of death because we know where we are headed after we die - life!
amazing...
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