RE Verse reading–Amos7:1-17, 8:1-3 “The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer” (8:2) The fourth vision (0f five) in Amos 7-9 is of a basket of ripe fruit. God had two messages. On one level, there is nothing more luscious than fruit that is ripe and sweet. It is the pinnacle and reward of agricultural enterprise. An the same time, there is nothing more short-lived. After only a few days, ripe fruit spoils. A picture with two sides! When Amos spoke, the nation was experiencing prosperity. It seemed permanent to the people. Success always does. Even so, the end was near. Nothing is independent from God’s judgement. When things are going well, it is easy to forget God, but we deceive ourselves when we feel invincible. The hardest time, and the most important time, for humility is when we are successful. Even then, the time is ripe. May the Lord teach us an appropriate fear.
