We all have had the experience of knowing we made a serious mistake when it is too late to correct the mistake. Once in graduate school, the final examination allowed the students to select one of several questions. The examination was to fully answer the question selected. After writing furiously for over two hours, I suddenly realized that I had begun my answer at the wrong place. With only 15 minutes left, I tried to connect my answer to the correct beginning. I knew I was not successful, and my examination grade proved it. I realized my mistake much too late.
Perhaps let students (who wish) share “too late” experiences. You are looking for “too late” experiences that have obvious consequences to illustrate this: “too late” experiences have consequences that are more than inconvenience. Perhaps you can discuss the difference between a depressing situation and a “too late” situation.
The mistake may be made in a project, in a situation, or in a relationship. It may be job-centered, family-centered, friend-centered, or congregation-centered. Ask a divorced person when the “killing” mistake occurred in the non-existent marriage, or former close business partners who became alienated, or former good friends who are no longer acquaintances, and all of them will likely be able to identify the “too late” moment.
The point you wish to make: “too late” situations can occur in a number of ways. Those situations typically produce consequences that have a basic impact on your life and cannot be avoided. We are not talking about a depressed attitude or outlook. We are talking about definite happenings that cannot be prevented—the loss of a job, the loss of a house, the loss of a relationship, etc.
It is chilling to know that even in the closest relationship, a “too late” moment can come. To me, the most horrifying thing regarding such moments is that always we seem to know when those moments occurred looking back. Rarely do we see such moments coming. In fact, we are often surprised when they occur.
Typically, we identify “‘too late” moments when we begin experiencing the consequences of those moments.
The more we realize that “too late” consequences happen, the more (a) we take nothing for granted, (b) we invest caring and awareness in that which is important, and (c) we factor in the “too late” awareness when we make our choices and decisions. We refuse to neglect people and relationships.
We need to understand that we can produce such moments in our relationship with God through our attitudes, our behavior, and our priorities. God is incredibly patient. He is incredibly kind, forgiving, and merciful. However, we can heap such abuse on our relationship with God that we drive God from us. There is a difference between ignorance resulting from a lack of exposure to knowledge and rebellion that proceeds from an “I don’t care” attitude. One did not know any better, but the other acted out of a defiant attitude. Even people often are sympathetic to those who did not know, but have a different attitude regarding those who are defiant.
We definitely need to be constantly aware that we can abuse God and our relationship with Him. While we must depend on His mercy and grace, we must not abuse His mercy and grace. Assuming divine mercy and grace always will be there even if we direct our lives by a “don’t care” attitude is abusing His mercy and grace.
Generations before, their forefathers knew the attitudes and lifestyle of the Kingdom of Israel were ungodly. Though there had been a time of knowledge and understanding, their forefathers failed miserably to pass that knowledge and understanding on to their children. Instead, following generations cultivated a “do not care” attitude toward God that was communicated well. The result: abuses of God constantly multiplied and grew increasingly serious.
Early generations of all 12 tribes of Israel clearly understood the dire consequences of (a) neglecting poor Israelites [Deuteronomy 15] and (b) the selfishness of greed [consider Deuteronomy 24:19-22]. The time came (for generations) that the Kingdom of Israel lost complete touch with “who God wanted them to be.” Losing touch with God’s expectations for His people always is destructive to His people. It always results in people abusing God’s love and care.
God tried to call their attention to what was happening, but God’s efforts failed. God told their forefathers prior to entering Canaan the consequences that disobedience would produce (read Deuteronomy 28).
It is amazing to note things we “never saw” until we begin to pay the consequences of “too late” moments. Things we failed to note while we were in the midst of those moments have a striking clarity when we pay the consequences of a “too late” moment.
God planned to send a locust swarm to eat the vegetation just as the seed sprouted. Amos saw how horrible the consequences would be. He pled with God not to destroy the Kingdom of Israel, and God changed His mind. Yet, the Kingdom of Israel neither heard nor learned anything. Nothing changed.
Often the harm God brings to us through the consequences of our choices is delayed through the pleas of a righteous person. However, eventually what we are measures us for the consequences we pay.
The Lord intended to send a fire that would produce major destruction. Amos saw God’s intent, and he pled with God not to destroy the Kingdom of Israel. God did not follow through with His intent. The people did not change their attitudes or behavior.
See the above comment. Illustrate the power of a righteous person’s pleas.
Then God measured them with a plumb line. What they were would determine God’s actions. Amos was silent. It was “too late” to plead with God. The wickedness of Israel was beyond the pleas of a righteous man.
See the above comment. Illustrate that the time comes when we are measured by what we are.
The Kingdom of Israel’s reaction was the opposite of repentance. The high priest of Bethel told the king that the words of Amos were undermining the confidence of the nation. The high priest even told Amos to return to his own kingdom and prophesy. He was neither wanted nor needed in Bethel (a worship center in the Kingdom of Israel).
Amos told the high priest (Amaziah) that Amos was doing only what God told him to do. The day would come when the high priest’s wife would be a prostitute, his children would be killed, his land would be sold, and he would die in a gentile country as an exile.
We do not have to repent even in the face of the obvious. Repentance is a choice.
Also note there are numerous motives for maintaining ungodliness. Our justifications for being ungodly are many.
We rarely enjoy people pointing out our flaws or making us look at the consequences of our behavior.
Just as ripe fruit marked summer’s end, the Kingdom of Israel was facing her end.
This is a striking illustration for them that declares the period of good and ease (summertime) is over. The “unchangeable” is about to change—what “is” was not indefinite. The point would be more striking to a society in which there was no form of preservation of “summer fruits” by canning or freezing. What a profound way to say to them, “It is over! The end of ‘the good life’ is here!”
Desperate times were surely upon the Kingdom of Israel! Their wickedness brought those days upon them! They, not God, were responsible for what would happen!
Denial would not change their future. The consequences of choices were certain.
Among the lessons to be learned, three are chillingly obvious: (a) A “too late” moment in our relationship with God can come because of our abuse of God. (b) If it arises, all God has to do is to let us face the consequences of our attitudes and behavior. (c) God is under no obligation to protect the people He loves if those people reject Him.
As Christians, we should pay close attention to all three lessons.
For Thought and Discussion
1. What experience do many of us have in common?
The experience of knowing we made a serious mistake when it is too late to correct the mistake.
2. In what ways can this mistake be made?
The mistake can occur in many ways—on the job, in family relationships, with a friend, in a congregation, with a project, etc.
3. Most people can recognize the “too late” moment when?
They often identify the moment after it has passed, when they look back.
4. Christians need to understand what about the “too late” moment?
Christians need to understand that we can produce such moments in our relationship with God through attitudes, behavior, and priorities.
5. Discuss the difference between the ignorance from lack of exposure and the ignorance of rebellion.
Included in the discussion should be the difference between ignorant sins (unintentional sins) and sins of rebellion. This ancient distinction can be seen in Leviticus 4:2, 22, 27, 5:14-19, and 22:14. The distinction is between a person who seeks to obey God and did something wrong that he did not know was wrong, and the person who rebels against God in the knowledge that he is defying God.
6. In what way did the Kingdom of Israel’s forefathers fail miserably?
They failed miserably to pass to the next generation the knowledge and understanding that neglecting the poor among them and the greed of a self-centered lifestyle were ungodly.
7. Discuss Deuteronomy 28.
The discussion should include that God was quite plain about the consequences of rebellion against His ways.
8. God planned to bring enormous destruction on the Kingdom of Israel how? Why did God change His mind?
He planned to bring destruction by a locust swarm and by fire. God changed His mind because Amos asked God not to do what He intended.
9. Discuss God’s use of the plumb line.
The discussion should include the awareness that it is a simple way to measure if something is straight or not. The object’s straightness is measured. The people would be measured. The fact that the consequences were deserved would be beyond question. They would pay for what they were.
10. What did the high priest of the kingdom of Israel tell the king?
Amos is undermining the stability of the kingdom and the king.
11. What did the high priest tell Amos?
Go prophesy in your own country—you are not wanted here!
12. State five things Amos told the high priest.
(a) I am doing what I do because God told me to do it.
(b) Your wife will become a prostitute (she will be forced to that life in an attempt to survive).
(c) Your children will be killed at the invasion (by the sword).
(d) Your land will be divided and sold.
(e) You will die as an exile in a gentile country.
13. State three lessons we should learn from today’s lesson.
(a) A “too late” moment can come in our relationship with God if we abuse God.
(b) If that moment comes, all God needs to do is to allow us to endure the consequences of our attitudes and behavior.
(c) God is under no obligation to protect the people He loves if those people reject Him.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 10