What is the definition of Amos 4:7? 🙋 🔍
And also I have withholden the rain from you, when [there were] yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
Explanation:
Okay, let's break down this passage from Amos 4:7. It’s a really powerful and somewhat unsettling verse in the Old Testament. Here’s what it means, explained simply:
The Basic Story:
Amos is an Israeli prophet who’s warning the people of Israel about their impending doom. He’s telling them that God is deliberately sending bad weather – specifically, 💎no rain💎 – to a specific city.
Let's unpack each part:
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“And also I have withholden the rain…”
– This tells us that God has decided to stop raining on this particular city. It’s not just a random act of nature; it’s a conscious decision by God.
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“…from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest.”
- This is crucial. It means that God is stopping the rain 💎before💎 the crops are ready to be harvested. The "harvest" refers to the time when people gather their crops for their families and livelihood.
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“And I caused it not to rain upon another city…”
– This establishes a clear contrast. God is actively choosing to punish this specific city, while leaving other cities untouched.
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“…one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.”
- This is where it gets really significant. It’s like God is intentionally creating a situation where 💎some💎 crops fail (we call them "withered"), but 💎others💎 thrive.
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“One piece was rained upon”
- This suggests that some people in this city will suffer misfortune or loss.
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“And the piece whereupon it rained not withered”
– This is the key part. It means that 💎despite💎 the rain falling on one area, the crops on the other area 💎survived💎. It’s a powerful image of God's judgment being balanced with blessing.
What does this verse mean in terms of bigger picture?
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God's Justice:
This verse is often interpreted as a demonstration of God’s justice. He isn’t just randomly stopping rain; he’s actively punishing those who are displeasing him.
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God's Sovereignty:
It shows that God has complete control over all things, and He can choose to punish or bless people based on their actions.
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A Warning:
It serves as a warning to the people of Israel about their sins and their need for repentance and change.
In short, this verse is a dramatic illustration of God's judgment – he’s deliberately choosing to cause hardship in one place to ultimately bring about good in another.
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Do you want me to:
💎 Explain any part of this verse in more detail?
💎 Connect it to other biblical stories or themes?
💎 Give a different interpretation of the verse?