Amos

Amos

Men who taught God's will were called prophets. Such men were specially chosen by God to tell the people his words. The Spirit of God helped them know what to say, and they were commanded to proclaim it.

Much of their work was warning the people to turn from their sins and follow God's way. By God's Spirit, the

prophets were often able to tell what would happen in the future if the people did not obey God.

The shepherd Amos came from Tekoa, a small town of Judah. But Amos did not speak God's words to his own people. God called him to preach in Israel.

Most of Amos' life was spent out of doors, either as a shepherd of as a tender of sycamore trees. It is probable that Amos sometimes took sheep, wool, or hides as far as Egypt or Damascus.

Wherever he went or whatever he did, Amos never forgot he was one of God's prophets. He spoke out boldly against the sins of the king and the people. Most often Amos spoke about justice. How much he wanted to see the poor treated fairly!