Sifted and Saved

"For surely I will command, and will sift the house of Israel among all nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve; yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground."

Amos 9:9

The writer of Hebrews reminded believers in chapter 12 not to despise the chastening of the LORD because this shows He is treating us as beloved children.  The children of Israel who entered into a covenant with God were no exception.  Amos revealed to the northern kingdom of Israel judgment was coming for the sins of the nation, but God would preserve those who repented and sought Him.  Even after being taken captive by Assyria and Babylon God would sift the house of Israel from wherever they were scattered to gather them again:  not the smallest grain would be lost.

Sifting isn't a comfortable process.  Grain, chaff, dirt, and other debris were tossed together to separate the grain from all the undesirable material.  C.H. Spurgeon made a great observation concerning the sifting God does with His people to separate them from what is undesirable to Him to sanctify us unto Himself:  "I think I see you, poor believer, tossed about like that wheat, up and down, right and left, in the sieve, and in the air, never resting. Perhaps it is suggested to you, ‘God is very angry with me.’ No, the farmer is not angry with his wheat when he casts it up and down in the sieve, and neither is God angry with you; this you shall see one day when the light shall show that love ruled in all your griefs.”  Times of hardship and upheaval does not mean God is against you, for He loves those who trust Him.  Like the children of Israel sin always has negative consequences for us, but having repented in submission to Jesus we find His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

What confidence we can have God will not leave, forsake, or forget us!  He has sifted His people from among Israel and Gentile nations so we might be one Body with Jesus Christ as our Head.  Romans 10:12-13 says, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³  For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."  We are like the smallest grain He refuses to waste because God treasures us according to the riches of His grace because we have obtained righteousness by faith in Christ.  Whilst the Amos passage can be applied to the life of believers, Israel still has a special place in God's plans and purposes (see Romans 9-10).  The church has not supplanted Israel whom God compares in many places to His betrothed.   Praise the LORD for His goodness to all who trust in Him!