Amos 7:2-3 “…I said: ‘O Lord God, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, for he is small!’ So the Lord relented concerning this. ‘It shall not be,’ said the Lord.”
This plea for God to relent happens twice in chapter seven of the book of Amos: once with the pestilence and the second time with the fire. In each instance Amos cries out to God, and the Lord relents. This passage shows the grace and mercy of God in that He would hear the prayers of a human (of one made from dust) and also chooses to withhold punishment. It also reveals that we can pray on behalf of others and God will answer.
Amos was not the only one to cry out on behald of another. Daniel did the same. He took on the responsibility to pray for his nation and ask forgiveness for their sins as if they were his own.1 He mourned, pleaded with God for mercy, and was answered. He was poor in spirit, and his petition was heard.
I knew an individual once who was looking for a someone who could “touch heaven” on their behalf. The thought was a mighty warrior who would storm the gates of heaven and break through. But Scripture tells us that it is the poor in spirit who are blessed and gain the kingdom of heaven,2 that the Lord hears the the desire of the humble,3 and a broken and contrite heart He will not despise.4 Daniel and Amos did not demand pardon from God; they sought mercy and pleaded with the Lord to forgive. Those who “touch heaven” for someone else are meek and poor of spirit. They take the emotional or physical affliction of another and bring it before the throne of God. We do this with humble confidence knowing that God hears and will not reject a broken and contrite heart. He may not always answer the way we want, but He will hear and do what is best.
Is there someone in your life you can bring before God like Amos and Daniel did? God will hear. God might relent. God will answer. Bring them before the throne of God on their behalf and touch heaven for them today.
~ Moriah
