No Where to Hide - Amos 5-9

 Amos 9:2-4 (ESV Strong's)

2 “If they dig into Sheol,

from there shall my hand take them;

if they climb up to heaven,

from there I will bring them down.

3 If they hide themselves on the top of Carmel,

from there I will search them out and take them;

and if they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea,

there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them.

4 And if they go into captivity before their enemies,

there I will command the sword, and it shall kill them;

and I will fix my eyes upon them

for evil and not for good.”

No Where to Hide

When God decides to discipline someone for disobedience to His Word, there is no place to hide.  Israel had disobeyed God’s Word in their hearts.  They had worship services, but they were void of heartfelt meaning.  Note what God says here through the words of Amos:

Amos 5:21-24 (ESV Strong's)

21 “I hate, I despise your feasts,

and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,

I will not look upon them.

23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;

to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

24 But let justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

They had worship but without mercy and justice in their hearts.  They had an outward display but not an inward disposition toward God and His heart.   So, God said He would discipline them.  They thought they could avoid the discipline of God and hide from Him.  The above passage tells us that this is not possible.  In verse four of the above passage we read, “... I will fix my eyes upon them for evil and not for good.”   God fixes His eyes upon us.  We are not able to hide from Him when we sin and disobey Him.   Others may not see our disobedience but God does.  He cuts us open like a knife to expose our sin:

Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV Strong's)

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

We can not hide from God!!