Famine Of The Word Foretold By Amos

By Wayne Schatzle

It has been interesting watching how folks react when faced with the prospect of shortage. In recent memory, the Cabbage Patch doll shortage was something to behold, when an adult would even take one from the arms of a child so she would have one to give to her own daughter. It seems every year there is another toy that is in short supply. Today, Pokemon is the object of covet, where usually normal, level headed parents would go to great lengths to obtain something from the Pokemon craze -- Lest their little darling be disappointed. In this land of plenty we have the luxury of fretting over nonsense such as toy shortages. But other countries are not as fortunate as we are. More often than not the rest of the world experiences serious shortages of food. Year after year, due to the war, drought and other factors, crops fail and populations are denied much needed foodstuffs. Is famine the future for the United States? Only time will tell for sure, but terrible times are indeed forecasted for all the inhabitants of the earth. How will Americans handle it? Judging by the behavior displayed when mere toys are wanted -- it will be a sight to behold when food is the issue. People do scramble when faced with the possibility of shortage. Witness the recent stockpiling at the threat of Y2K. Citizens will do what is necessary to obtain scarce commodities.

Brace yourself for coming famine. Believe it or not, and obscure book in the [scriptures] details [Yahweh's] anger at men of the nations for their utter failing to conduct their lives as they should. Men have crushed the needy, pervert worship to [Yahweh], did not even repent in the face of famine and the sword.

The prophet Amos writes of a time when men are so callous and stiff-necked to an [Elohim] that continually reaches out and tries to show men the way of repentance. [Yahweh] comes to the point He takes away the most important thing to seeking souls -- the way to Salvation! "Behold the day is coming, says Yahweh, that I will send a famine across the land, a famine not of bread, but of the hearing of the words of Yahweh. They shall wonder from sea to sea, from north to south. They shall run to and fro seeking the word of Yahweh, but shall not find it."

The book of Amos should be of interest to everyone. It details how we seem to take pains to avoid converting to [Yahweh's] way of thinking and continue in our errant ways. As usual, we never appreciate things until they are removed from us. Presently, our country's cup runneth over. We are the envy of the world with our wealth. Almost overlooked in our cornucopia is the plethora of bible-related materials and the freedom to worship and hear the word of [Yahweh] from more than 700 "church organizations".

Will Americans heed the warning of the prophet Amos and stockpile [the scriptures] and study helps like they stockpiled water for Y2K? Don't wait for the anger of [Yahweh] to motivate you to study and search for Him and His way to live. "This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will also deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself." 2 Tim. 2:11-13