BBB Bible Series: Amos, The Famous Prophet Quiz

Answer: burden

The name Amos comes from the Hebrew word "amas", meaning "to lift or carry a burden". His name then implies one who has a burden or who is a burden-bearer.

This is appropriate, considering that this prophet had a burden for his people, and tried to make them understand that their rebellion against God would have dire consequences.

While the nation of Israel was enjoying a time of prosperity, military might and national optimism, this prosperity only served to increase selfish materialism, immorality and injustice.

Amos warned of all these things leading to the downfall of the nation, yet with such pleasurable enjoyments, the people simply refused to pay heed to him. In only three short decades, however, his prophecies came true, and the result was the downfall of Israel.

Answer: he tended to domestic animals

In the first verse of the book of Amos, we see that he was a herdsman, much like the shepherds who came to visit the Christ child, centuries later. While he may have been a wealthy man, as some imagine, it is much more likely that he was impoverished, and worked for another man. One indicator of this is the fact that he also gathered wild sycamore figs to sell for a profit. In chapter 7, verse 14, we see that Amos himself speaks of this fact. "...I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son, but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit" (King James Version).

Very likely, he used the profits from the sale of such fruit to supplement his meager income. This would correlate with a teaching found in First Corinthians 1:27, which states that, "...God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." (KJV)

Answer: an earthquake

This was apparently a major destructive earthquake, or it would most likely not have been referenced as simply "the earthquake" in Amos 1:1. We see another reference to this cataclysmic event in Zechariah 14:5. "...yea, ye shall flee like as ye fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee."

While this reference seems to speak of a yet-to-be realized future event, the occasion mentioned in Amos had already occurred by the time the book was written down.

Answer: Babylon

Babylon did not receive dire warnings from Amos, but it is spoken against in other Old Testament books, along with Egypt and other nations.

The nations that received judgments from Amos include Damascus (Syria), Gaza (home of many modern-day Palestinians), Ammon (modern-day Amman, Jordan), Tyrus (Lebanon), Edom (south of Israel), Moab (modern-day southern Jordan), and both Judah and Israel (the divided kingdoms of the original Jewish people).

Answer: purchasing slaves from the north lands

While these deeds are horrific, others were prevalent as well. They included drinking wine on the altar of idol gods, betrayal of relatives, human sacrifices, abandoning worship of the God of heaven, worshipping replicas of calves at Bethel, falsifying weights in order to deceive purchasers, and a host of other offenses.

While it may be easy for us to condemn such acts as barbaric practices, we should also be aware that humankind has not changed throughout the centuries, and that evil can be present in all generations.

Answer: blood-stained rivers

Amos does not record seeing blood-stained rivers, but along with the other choices given, Amos also saw a vision of a fire (Amos 7:4&5) as well as a plumbline (Amos 7:8) which indicates a straight and accurate leveling of a structure under construction. This seems to indicate God's desire for accuracy in weights and measures signifying honesty among his people.

The grasshoppers indicate famine (Amos 7:1&2) the fire indicates a purging of evil; the summer fruit also presages famine, although this one is indicative of a famine of truth rather than a famine of food (Amos 8:11). The vision of the smiting of the lintels of the door represents war and destruction (Amos 9:1-5).

Answer: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

What seems to be the point here, is that God desires for His people everywhere to walk with Him in harmony and love. Laying aside evil, forgetting long-festering hatreds of one's fellow man, and pursuing honesty, peace and fellowship with God has a much greater reward than rebellion and sin.

A New Testament similarity to this line of thinking may be found in Philippians 2:2 and 4:8.

First, in 2:2 we read, "Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." Secondly, in 4:8, we see "...whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise; think on these things."

Answer: by seeking good and not evil

In verse 4 of the fifth chapter of Amos, we see a precedent of the statement made in verses 14 and 15. There, God says "...Seek ye me, and ye shall live."

This is quickly followed by condemnation for those who are unrighteous, who oppress the poor and who oppose God's will. In verses 14 through 15 we read a recap of the original statement made in verse 4. "Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgments in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph."

In the book of Romans, chapter 12, verse 9 we see an almost identical statement - "...Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."

Answer: sifted like corn

"For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth."

This is exactly the experience that Jews have endured for centuries, yet the Bible teaches that God has not, and will not forsake them wholly to their enemies. Christians believe that as children of God themselves, the same protections are offered to them. That is not to say that hardships and judgments will not be passed upon those who sin, nor is it intended to imply that the Holocaust "never happened." Quite the contrary; in this belief, God in His infinite mercy provides for each individual, if they will be obedient to Him, sometimes even unto death itself.

The reward for obedience is abundant life, while the wages of sin is always death, both physical and spiritual.

Answer: He will rebuild the tabernacle and His people will prosper at home

In Amos 9:11 it is very simply put, "In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof, and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old."

In verse 15, we read, "And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God."

Fairly plain-spoken, and easy to understand, isn't it? I believe that those who oppose Israel are in direct opposition to God and are acting very foolishly against God's plan for all of His people. Christians believe that they are included in that plan also, because of God's grace, and are equally a part of God's chosen people as well, even though they are not Jewish by birth.