ESOCS Devotional 2 March 2026 – Impending Scarcity of God’s Word
MEMORY VERSE: “And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not find it.” Amos 8:12 KJV
TEXT: AMOS 8:1-12
Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, a basket of summer fruit. 2 And He said, “Amos, what do you see?”
So I said, “A basket of summer fruit.”
Then the Lord said to me:
“The end has come upon My people Israel;
I will not pass by them anymore.
3 And the songs of the temple
Shall be wailing in that day,”
Says the Lord God—
“Many dead bodies everywhere,
They shall be thrown out in silence.”
4 Hear this, you who swallow up the needy,
And make the poor of the land fail,
5 Saying:
“When will the New Moon be past,
That we may sell grain?
And the Sabbath,
That we may trade wheat?
Making the ephah small and the shekel large,
Falsifying the scales by deceit,
6 That we may buy the poor for silver,
And the needy for a pair of sandals—
Even sell the bad wheat?”
7 The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob:
“Surely I will never forget any of their works.
8 Shall the land not tremble for this,
And everyone mourn who dwells in it?
All of it shall swell like the River,
Heave and subside
Like the River of Egypt.
9 “And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Lord God,
“That I will make the sun go down at noon,
And I will darken the earth in broad daylight;
10 I will turn your feasts into mourning,
And all your songs into lamentation;
I will bring sackcloth on every waist,
And baldness on every head;
I will make it like mourning for an only son,
And its end like a bitter day.
11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God,
“That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the Lord.
12 They shall wander from sea to sea,
And from north to east;
They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord,
But shall not find it.
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The Word of God is fruitful, and it does not go forth without producing powerful results (Isaiah 55:11). It is always reliable and true. Written down as scripture, God’s inspired word is highly beneficial – both spiritually and materially. Moreover, it has come to us in human flesh in Jesus Christ (John 1:14). It is the word of life, and whoever receives the word receives light and eternal life (John 1:4).
The Word of God includes both speech and action. It is extra powerful; for by it, God created all things; and by it, He cares for His creation. In the Old Testament, the prophets used the medium of the word to communicate to God’s people. In the New Testament, the word refers to the teachings of Jesus and His disciples. In Matthew 28:19, the Lord commands all believers to preach the word in all nations of the world – in preparation for the ultimate harvest of mankind.
However, this all-important word is yet to be truly received by so many. Even those who have received the word have not wholeheartedly done so. Hence, they still act contrary to the word’s demands. In our text, Prophet Amos warns that all who still live contrary to the word are doing so at their own peril. People listen to the word, but they still commit all sorts of sinful acts.
Time is running out, and the end is almost here. Soon people will look for teachers and preachers without success. May we not be condemned by the word in the end.
Reflections
- The Word of God is alive and active. It is said to be sharper than any double-edged sword. May it not cut us off from the Kingdom of God, when Christ returns.
Prayer
- Lord Jesus, give us the grace to listen and do your word for our overall good.
Further Reading: Isaiah 51:1-11; Luke 9:18-27, 1 Corinthians 14:1-12
ESOCS Devotional 2 March 2026
