Definition: Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Amos 7:4. It's a really powerful and somewhat unsettling passage about impending disaster. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: “Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me…” – This is an old prophecy, meaning a message delivered by God to someone who was listening. The speaker (Amos) is receiving this message from God. “…and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.” – This is the core of the verse. It describes a catastrophic event that will destroy everything. Let’s unpack it: “The Lord God called to contend…” - This suggests that God is actively warning us about something bad happening. “…by fire, and it devoured the great deep…” – This means a massive, intense blaze of fire will erupt – almost like an enormous explosion or a terrible storm. "Great deep" refers to a vast body of water (like the sea) that is being consumed. “and did eat up a part.” - This is the really scary part. It means that the fire completely destroyed a significant portion of everything – perhaps even the entire land, or a large area. What it’s saying (Interpretations & Context): This verse is often interpreted as a warning about spiritual ruin and judgment . It suggests: A Time of Judgment: God is sending this message to warn us about a time when things will be terrible – maybe a major spiritual crisis, or a period of intense punishment. The End Times: It’s linked to the idea that we're living in the "end times" – the time leading up to a significant event. Loss and Destruction: The imagery of fire and being “ate up” suggests a complete loss and destruction of everything good, perhaps even our own lives. Important Note: It’s crucial to remember that this is a prophecy . It's not necessarily predicting a specific future event in the way we often think of it today. It’s a message of warning about the potential for disaster and the importance of being ready for God’s judgment. In short, Amos 7:4 tells us that God is sending a terrible warning about an impending catastrophe – a devastating fire that will destroy everything. --- Do you want to delve deeper into any specific aspect of this verse? For example, would you like me to: Explain the historical context of this prophecy? Discuss different interpretations of the verse? Explore how this passage relates to other biblical stories about judgment and destruction?