Amos 2

“For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept His commandments. Their lies lead them astray, lies their fathers followed. But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.” Amos 2:4-5 (NKJV)

There are phrases in the Bible that seem like throw-away references, ones like, “He acted in the ways of his father…”, “He was the son of…” or “His mother was….” Often, we get so caught up in the Biblical storyline that we forget those (above) phrases that give us foundational information as to why the narrative is occurring and how we are to predict the outcome of an instance. In short, the Lord is telling us that “apples don’t fall far from the tree.” If something unnatural is going to happen (a person from an idolatrous family who defies their upbringing and chooses to live righteously), it must be the Lord intervening. In today’s chapter, both Judah and Israel are being judged because of their idolatry. But God, in His grace, reveals the source of idolatry: Fathers believed lies and taught them to their children, and worldliness polluted God’s Word. Lies built upon lies led to a generation that believed they were worshipping God, yet in opposition to His true desire for His people to live. That scenario was against God’s instruction to fathers.

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NKJV)

“…the father shall make known Your truth to the children.” (Isaiah 38:19b)

The idea of restoring a generation to the proper father/son discipleship relationship is the intent of Jesus’s words to His disciples. It is what He modeled to them and charged them to impart in the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:18-20)

“Jesus said to him (Thomas), ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.’ Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.  Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.’” John 14:6-18 (NKJV)