Done, Yet Not Done: Amos 6:12-14
Nothing can break our relationship with God. He might get frustrated at our choices and be angry when we sin, but He promises to forgive. He might shake his head when do something thoughtless, but He knows we cannot see the future. He might wonder what we are thinking, but He still promises to walk beside us. He will never abandon us.
In the Gospel of Matthew, when Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, Pilate washes his hands of Jesus’ death. Pilate knows Jesus is not to blame for what the elite accuse Jesus of doing. He brings out the violent criminal Barabbas, and the crowd asks to have Barabbas released instead of letting Jesus go. Pilate knows there is nothing he can do with the religious elite except to let them have their way. He washes his hands of the situation and moves on.
That is exactly what is happening in this passage. Amos asks the people if you let horses run on rocks or if you use oxen to plow through rocks. It’s a rhetorical question. The answer is no in both cases. If you let horses run on rocks, they will injure themselves. If you try to use oxen to plough through rocks, you may injure the oxen, injure yourself, and absolutely damage the plow. These are both pointless tasks that don’t produce any reasonable results.
This is how God feels about the Hebrew people. He tried to teach them a better way. He tried to give them rules and regulations to structure their society better. He tried to show them how human nature is flawed and not always the best judge of right or best.
However, the people turned His righteousness into poison. They believe by their own strength they make things right. Instead of being humble, they are self-righteous. Instead of looking out for one another, they consider only what is best for themselves. Instead of sharing, they horde. Instead of making sure everyone has enough food and water to survive, they spend their wealth on choice meat and fine beverages. Instead of making sure everyone has shelter, they spend their money inlaying their doorposts with ivory.
God had enough. It is time to wash His hands of them. Getting the people to change is going to be as easy as asking a horse to run on stones or plowing a rocky field. At this point, the only possible outcome is frustration.
There is an important side to this reality, though. Even as God says it is time to wash His hands of them by bringing a nation in to destroy them, God sent Amos to them. God continues to give them warning. God continues to give opportunity to change. God has not abandoned the Hebrew people and He will not abandon them. He may wash His hands of them, but He is still in relationship with them. Nothing can break our relationship with God.
