Amos 8:11-12 “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.”
From a historical perspective, Amos was among the last group of prophets prior to the 400 year period between what we call the Old Testament and the New Testament. Some would listen, many would not. As Amos prophesied, the next 400 years, sometimes referred to as the Maccabean period or Silent Years, were indeed a famine of God’s spoken word through the prophets. Yet God had a greater plan.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Once again, the Word of God would be available to all people through God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus would come to earth in human form, live and teach God’s Word physically and in person, because in fact, Jesus was God’s Word. Some would listen, many would not. God’s plan to make his Word available to all persons would continue after Christ’s death, burial, resurrection and ascension. Jesus’ disciples would continue to spread God’s Word through the land. Some would listen, many would not.
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Today we have the Word of God in written form. God’s Word—given to us through his divine inspiration imparted to many selected writers—protected and maintained throughout generations; available to us today some 3,000 years later as collective Scriptures known as The Bible. Some will listen, many will not.
Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Jude v. 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.
We no longer have a famine of the Word of God. God’s Word is readily available in multiple translations and numerous languages, available in printed form or via online sources. Some will read, many will not. We do not lack access to the Word of God. It isn’t a famine of God’s Word that is our current danger; it is a plague of polluting God’s Word to suite our own needs and desires. Some will read, many will not, many more will try to make their own adjustments and their own paraphrases. Yet even as God gave the warning through Amos that there would be a famine of His Word; God also gave us advanced warning that there would be a diluting of His Word. Some will listen, many will not. We must not tamper with God’s Word.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Revelation 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
The Bottom Line is this: God’s Word is available to you.
Will you listen? Or will you not?
Psalm 119:11, 16, 18 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. … I will not neglect your word. … Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Forgive us for the neglect of your Word. Keep us safe from those who would dilute and misinterpret your Word for their convenience sake, sadly leading others astray. Grant that we might boldly proclaim the truth of your Word, Salvation through Christ, and the blessed hope of a future in your soon coming Kingdom.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, Amen.
The devotional Some Will Listen appeared first on Write From My Heart at
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