The Lion Has Roared

The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:8) Nearly 2800 years ago Amos responded to the "lion's roar."He could no more ignore the voice of the sovereign Lord than he could react casually to the roar of a lion, a ferocious beast common in Amos' time. Yahweh was calling his wayward people to remember him and to repent. Amos, a shepherd of southern Judah called to preach to the northern kingdom of Israel, courageously proclaimed God's message. He did so faithfully, despite the official opposition that came his way. In time Amos' words became a deep source of inspiration to all who stand in the prophetic stream, from the Hebrew prophets who followed him to evangelistic Christians in our day who know the transforming power of the Word. In this sense, the message of Amos the lion's roar has resounded through the centuries.