Have you ever tried to leave reminders for yourself? Like little signs or clues that were meant to represent something specific, such as an important lesson or event? I used to keep in my pocket a coin that my grandpa gave me, for instance, to remind me of a lesson that he once taught me. Sometimes, though, we forget what that symbol was meant to remind us of.

This is what has happened in Israel. In Amos 4:6-11, Amos lists six different events and circumstances that God had used to get the Israelites' attention: famine (v. 6), drought (v. 7), mildew and blight (v. 9), locusts (v. 9), plagues (v. 10), and war (v. 10). Yet, each of these reminders to Israel had the same result: ″Yet you have not returned to me″ (vv. 6-11), and they remained disobedient to God.

We may ask: How were these specific events supposed to remind people to return to God? In one sense, we know that it's in the middle of difficult circumstances that we naturally turn to God and cry out for His help. But, in this context, these events were more than random occurrences. They were terrible consequences directly tied to the curses of the law; each one was a specific punishment that God (see Deuteronomy 28:15-68; 32:23-27) would send on Israel if they broke the requirements of the covenant.

These events should thus have reminded the Israelites of the covenant and prompted them to repent and return to God. Individually and collectively, they should have reminded the people of their commitment to God and brought them back to covenant faithfulness.

While these events were indeed difficult circumstances, they were acts of mercy and grace, as they gave Israel one last chance to repent. By allowing Israel to experience the consequences of her sin, God was mercifully warning them of worse punishment that would come if they did not repent. But Israel still did not pay attention to the warnings, so they are now told: ″Prepare to meet your God″ (Amos 4:12).

As followers of Jesus today, we look forward to meeting God one day with great excitement and anticipation. But this would not have been the case for the Israelites of Amos' day. For them, the idea of meeting God would have been terrifying (see Exodus 20:18-19), for God would not be coming in rescue and salvation, but in judgment and punishment.

As if to reinforce the terrifying nature of a visitation from God, Amos proceeds to paint a picture of God's power (Amos 4:13). The God who ″forms the mountains″ and ″creates the wind″ can certainly come in judgment on His people.