Your Overlooked Sin

It shocks everyone. These crimes are so heinous:

• Russian soldiers’ murder, torture, looting, rape against Ukrainian women, threats of violence, and inhumane treatment of POWs.

• In Myanmar a massive wave of violence broke out in Rakhine State, forcing more than 700,000 people - half of them children - to seek refuge in Bangladesh..

• Chinese using systematic torture, illegal imprisonment, forced labor, organ harvesting and abusive psychiatric measure for those who oppose the government.

• The Taliban commit war crimes by targeting civilians, including killing teachers, abducting aid workers and burning school buildings.

• Just near to us the church staff were hiding a horrible sin. Finally, the sin was confronted and the staff members left. The church is left split apart.

It is clear that these criminals deserve judgement. Nobody can treat a fellow human being this way and expect to go unpunished. Each time we would ask God to intervene. There must be judgement.

As Christians it causes us to cry out. We want to see such human injustices brought before God.

The book of Amos speaks against human injustices.

Amos is a layman; he makes it clear he is not a professional profit. He is a herdsman, a sheep breeder, a keeper of the figs from the southern Kingdom of Judah. He goes to the North kingdom, Israel and preaches only under the instructions of God. He brings his message to Israel about 750 BC.

• Tyre- They were slave traders and dishonoured a prior covenant to act brotherly.

• Edom- Pursued Israel with the Sword, cast off all pity.

• Ammon- engaged in military pursuit to enlarge its boarder. There was cruelty to gain territory. Ripped open the body of a pregnant woman that the child might die. Most inhumane act.

• Moab- burning the bones of the King of Edom after death.

• Judah- They have rejected the rule of God and have followed lies.

There is a judgement pronounced in each nation. They clearly saw the sins of those around them as deserving judgement as it is clear to us that the current examples of Russia, China, the Taliban, Myanmar and the nearby church listed above are worthy of judgement.

Israel was caught unaware, as they were cheering saying A-men to the judgement of the nations around them. Amos points his finger to the covenant people Israel. He charges them of their own overlooked sins deserving judgement.

Is it possible that you have overlooked sin in your own life? That you are headed like Israel unaware toward judgement? It is imperative that you look not only to others in how they treat their fellow man. You must examine your life continuously for sin regarding how you treat others. You may discover that you are headed for judgement.

This must have stunned Israel when the judgement focussed on them. Did you notice what the complaint against Israel focussed on? It involved how Israel treated the poor and oppressed. Amos used this approach to point out their overlooked sin. He did it 750 years before Jesus told the crowds at the Sermon on the Mount that you can notice the spec in others’ eyes, but you overlook the plank in your own eye. It was more than spec in the eye in Moab and Judah that Amos called out, but for sure Israel had a serious log in their own eye (Matthew 7:3-5).

Examining how you treat the oppressed will reveal your overlooked sin (Amos 2:6-8). Amos speaks to the Israelites cruelty to the poor.

Materialism- Israel put the poor in slavery because of a debt for as little as a pair of sandals.

Immorality- The fathers set an example of immorality to their sons involving temple prostitutes. They were profaning the name of the Lord.

Ignoring God’s Word- They would take the outer garment of the poor as a pledge for payment. The poor would use this garment as a sleeping cover. It was cruel for the Israelites to keep the garment overnight causing the poor to suffer.

Fines were collected for infractions of the law; they were used to finance the drinking binges of those overseeing the money. After God harshly announced judgement of the nations the harshest judgement of all comes to Israel, the children of the Lord.

Is the church guilty of Materialism, immorality and ignoring God’s Word? Are you?

There are seminars today that coach people on how to build a business and profit on the misfortune of the poor. They coach the attendees on how to capitalize on the bankruptcy of others. They explain how to increase your luxury at the expense of the poor.

Materialism- In of our day is causing people to oppress the poor. Giving a cold cup of water in Jesus’ name is still required of the disciple of Jesus. Have you found yourself profiting financially from the misfortune of the poor?