"When will.....the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?"
Amos 8:5

I don't know about you but I find this passage from Amos one of the most challenging in the Old Testament. It
seems certain of the Jews were going into the Temple on the Sabbath to join with others in worshp of God
but deep down they couldn't wait for the Sabbath to be over to get back to where their real interest
is - exploiting and manipulating others in the market place. They got a thrill not from serving God but from
the impact they made on others by cheating them. Clearly they were living in contradiction of God's Word
and they were warned that if they continued doing so, they would suffer "a famine of hearing the words
of the Lord." (v.11)

What does that mean I wonder? I think it means this: the consequence of disobedience to the clearly
revealed will of God is that the time will come when we will no longer be able to hear God speaking
to us. In effect, God is saying: "If you don't act upon My Word then you won't hear My Word."
I am convinced many people today are going through a period of spiritual famine because they have
stopped obeying the Word of God. And, as we have said before, when we stop obeying then, God
stops revealing. If we are not concerned - passionately concerned - about doing what God asks,
then the Bible will become a closed Book and will not provide us with guidance, insight and comfort
we desire.

I often picture Herod questioning Jesus. The record says: "He plied with Him many questions,
but Jesus gave him no answer." (Luke 23:9). Previously our Lord had answered certain
questions Caiaphas and Pilate put to Him. But not Herod. Why? Our Lord would not respond to
someone who did not take Him seriously.

Taken from: Everyday With Jesus (May/June 1997 Issue - 14th June 1997)
Author: Selwyn Hughes