Who can be called by the Lord to be a prophet? The story of Amos is how the Lord can and will use anyone who is obedient.
The book of Amos opens with a brief description of him:
The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
From this we know that Amos is a shepherd from Tekoa, a rural location far from the big city of Jerusalem. We get more information in Chapter 7 when he describes himself:
I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’
Amos says a couple interesting things:
- I was not a prophet: Previously he was not called a prophet by others, and was not acting as a prophet.
- Nor a son of a prophet: He doesn’t come from a linage of prophets, but that isn’t stopping him.
- I was a shepherd and a fig farmer: Amos is just some guy with a day job!
- But The Lord: Regardless of what Amos has done, is doing, or who he thinks he is, it all changes once the Lord speaks
Amos demonstrates an example of someone who is called by the Lord to prophesy, even though it’s not his day job. He also represents someone who is called later in life, as opposed to Jeremiah or John the Baptist, who were called in the womb.
My prayer for you:
Lord please give us a word to share with others that will encourage, correct and help. Please identify the people around us who are in need of a word from You, and give us the boldness to share it. Amen!