The prophet Amos lived during a time of prosperity in Israel. The nation was wealthy and successful, but there was rampant social injustice and moral corruption. Many of the people had turned away from true worship of God. Amos warned that if the people did not repent, God would bring judgment upon them.
One of the judgments Amos foretold was a “famine of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11). This was a shocking statement, as the people of Israel prided themselves on being God’s chosen nation, with ready access to His laws and prophets. What did Amos mean when he warned them of a coming famine where they would not be able to hear the words of the Lord?
1. A literal famine of God’s word
On a literal level, Amos was warning that a time was coming when there would no longer be prophets and teachers ministering among the people of Israel. They had rejected God’s words, and He would withdraw the messengers who brought His word.
The Levitical priests were corrupt (Amos 2:6-8), and the professional prophets only spoke lies and what the people wanted to hear (Amos 2:11-12). Amos was one of the few voices still proclaiming the true message of God. Once judgment came and the nation was laid waste, even these last remaining prophets would fall silent.
So the people who had spurned the word of God would suddenly find themselves without any access to it. There would be a literal famine in the land – not of food and water – but of hearing the words of God. His judgments would fall, and there would be no prophetic voice left to instruct, warn, or comfort the people.
2. A spiritual famine of relationship with God
The “famine of hearing the words of the Lord” also speaks of the spiritual consequences of turning away from God. He had revealed Himself to Israel and spoken His word to them. But now they had rejected Him. As a result, they would lose the sense of His presence and access to His voice.
Hearing from God requires more than just having His written word. It also requires having a relationship with Him. When the people pursued idols and loose morality, their ability to perceive and receive the voice of God diminished. Eventually they would be so numb to divine truth that even if the words were spoken, they wouldn’t be able to hear it.
So in addition to the literal absence of prophets and teachers, Amos’ warning also foretold that the people would spiritually grow deaf and dumb to the voice of God. They would wall themselves off through disobedience, until they could no longer perceive His presence or understand His words. Their hearts would grow calloused and their ears dull through persistent rejection of the truth.
3. A judgment and wake-up call
This coming famine was intended as a judgment from God designed to wake the people up spiritually. By withdrawing the daily gift of His word, He would remind them of what they had forfeited through disobedience. He was calling them to reverse course and turn back to Him in repentance.
Receiving the word of God should never be taken for granted. When Amos warned of this coming “famine of hearing the words of the Lord,” it was a summons back to valuing the revelation they had been given. God was making His word scarce so that they would again recognize its importance. In love, He was disciplining them so that they would hunger again for Him and His words.
4. A future fulfillment
While Amos’ prophecy was fulfilled in part through the coming Babylonian exile, the “famine of hearing the words of the Lord” also foreshadowed times of spiritual drought centuries later. The scribal tradition choked off the life of the word through legalism. Periods of Roman persecution caused the voice of God to diminish. The traditions of men made the word of God of no effect (Mark 7:13).
But while the literal and spiritual aspects of this prophecy have found fulfillment many times over, it’s also true that the Bible warns of increasing apostasy in the last days (1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:3-4). As lawlessness increases, the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). There will be a widespread departure from the faith, signaling the approach of the end.
We can take Amos’ warning to heart on an individual level even today. Times of spiritual dryness or feeling cut off from the presence of God should provoke us to return to Him. We must never take for granted His daily grace in allowing us to hear and receive the words of life. We can maintain a spiritual famine through neglecting time in His word and prayer. But as James says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). The living words of God must be nourished in our hearts daily.
5. An important reminder
Amos’ prophecy stands as an important reminder for all believers. Those who have been entrusted with the Scriptures must not neglect this priceless gift. The written word of God must be supplemented by listening to the living word through the Spirit. It should provoke in us a sense of urgency to draw near to God, walk in obedience, and listen for His voice.
The words of life can only be heard by those who know the voice of the Shepherd (John 10:27). As believers, we must cultivate an ear attuned to God, with hearts quick to obey what He speaks. Then we will never need to experience the “famine” of being separated from the words of life.
Key Points
- Amos warned of a coming “famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” This referred to both a literal absence of prophets/teachers to speak God’s word, as well as a spiritual inability to perceive His voice due to the people’s sin.
- Withdrawing His word was a discipline and wake-up call from God, designed to spur repentance when the people experienced its lack.
- This prophecy was fulfilled through the exile and numerous times thereafter when the word of God was suppressed.
- It stands as an ongoing warning against neglecting the Scriptures and ceasing to listen for the voice of God in our own lives.
- As believers, we must continually nurture a hunger for God’s presence and words, through spending time in the Scriptures, prayer, and obedience.
