Seek God and Live

"For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: "Seek Me and live; ⁵ but do not seek Bethel,nor enter Gilgal, nor pass over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nothing."

Amos 5:4-5

During our study of the book of Amos at Calvary Chapel Sydney the LORD has impressed upon me the importance of seeking Him.  Religious activity was in full swing in the northern kingdom of Israel, but the people worshiped the works of their own hands.  They went to "holy" sites like Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba, places of antiquity where pillars and monuments had been set up by the patriarchs--not for worship, but in response to the revelation of God, His presence, and covenant.  When Abraham planted a tamarisk tree, Isaac dug a well in Beersheba, Joshua directed the elders to set up a monument of stones from the Jordan in Gilgal, or Jacob set up a stone in Bethel it was never intended to be the idolatrous shrines their descendants made them.

It is good to seek God in worship and prayer, but it is possible to do these activities without seeking God at all.  We can read the Bible and learn something new without having intentionally sought God.  When I visited Israel I went to many ancient biblical sites but there is no power or holiness in the stones walked upon by Jesus.  Many times I have stood by the Western Wall and even walked on the Temple Mount but proximity to where Solomon's temple once stood does not aid God in hearing prayers or answering them.  I have witnessed pilgrims from all over the world tour sites and it is common to see them caressing or kissing the ancient stones where it is believed by some the dead body of Jesus once lay, moved by the experience.

There is nothing wrong with visiting Israel and the many historical sites of interest, but like Bethel and Gilgal buildings and stones will all come to nothing.  A stone touched by Jesus is nothing, but Jesus is the Rock of Salvation we are to build our lives upon by faith in Him.  Man's natural inclination is to reverence and place great value on what is old, famous, or of monetary worth.  We classify relics and ruins as "priceless" because a price cannot be placed upon the immense historical value.  Is not the presence of God what made Jerusalem a special place?  I have been blessed by visits to Israel, but a person need not go to the Old City to experience the abundant Christian life God gives by grace.

If we will worship and honour God, seeking to express our love to Him, it is not the kissing of stones or bowing in ancient crypts He requires from us.  If we love Him, we ought to love one another--even our enemies.  No one is closer to God by a trip to Israel, but we draw near when we seek and obey Him.  Micah 6:8 says, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"  Doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly has everything to do with our conduct towards other people in light of God we have sought.  1 John 4:20 makes the connection clear:  "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"  Kissing a stone does not show love for Jesus, but through faith loving people does.

Based on Amos 5:4-5 it seems the children of Israel sought Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba as a substitute for seeking God.  It is vital to understand we too can adopt the same error, imagining we are making sacrifices for God when our sole aim is (on some level) to please ourselves.  Our gifts, service, and sacrifices unto the LORD is the effect of seeking Him, not offered as a bribe so we might find Him.  Those who seek God will find Him, having believed the promises of His Word.  We are wise to seek God as if our life depends upon it because He is our life.