“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan,
who are on the mountain of Samaria,
who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,
who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’
The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness
that, behold, the days are coming upon you,
when they shall take you away with hooks,
even the last of you with fishhooks.
And you shall go out through the breaches,
each one straight ahead;
and you shall be cast out into Harmon,”
declares the LORD.
Riches, power and status has not place in God’s order. In the above passage we read the prophet Amos’ words about the very wealthy women of Israel. Apparently, in a time when women waited on me and were even abused by men, these woman had reached great status. They commanded their husbands to wait on them. They oppressed the poor (historical is is probably the female that is more engaged with carrying for the poor, by nature). They would “crush” the needy. This is not a neglecting they are doing. This is a proactive and aggressive treatment of those who cannot care for themselves. God sees all this. God judges all this. These women are a representation of what was happening across Israel at the time. God’s justice is righteous justice. Mankind has flawed in their justice. God sent Amos to expose the injustice of Israel and call them to repentance. We know, based upon history, that they did not. Amos did not fail in his mission, however. He faithfully spoke God’s word to those who flaunted their status, riches and position and failed to show mercy and justice.
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