Hearing God in a Time of Crisis

Blaine Smith, Author and founder of Nehemiah Ministries

Defining Visions for Our Life Sometimes Come When Our Foundations Are Shaken

James Michener was an astoundingly creative and productive author. The historical novels he wrote required intensive research and the most acute understanding of cultural nuances. The production of one such tome would be an outstanding accomplishment for any writer. During his lifetime Michener authored forty-three of them, completing one a year for several decades, and researching one while writing another. He continued to write prolifically until he was 92. He also moved numerous times, residing as often as possible in the region of the world he was researching for his next major work. 

Two stunning factors in Michener’s transformation into one of the great writers of all time offer encouragement to each of us in realizing our own potential. One is that he didn’t begin writing novels until he was 40. His example brings to mind that some of us are simply late-bloomers by nature, and that there can be vital benefits to being so. We shouldn’t lose heart if we have a major dream that hasn’t yet been realized even though we’re well into our adult years. We each operate on different clocks, and God has radically different timetables in unfolding his plan for each of us.

The Man Who Was a Dresser of Sycamore Trees

Amos [Ā'mos]—burden-bearer or one with a burden.

1. This prophet of “judgment,”; which is the key word of the book he wrote, was a citizen of Tekoa, west of the Dead Sea (Amos 1:1; 7:8-16; 8:2).

Although he was one of the oldest of the prophets, we know little about Amos save what he himself tells us. He does not appear to have belonged to any rank or influence. The opposite is the case, seeing he styles himself a herdsman (Amos 7:14). 

He was no “professional prophet, speaking for a living.” Amos did not belong to the order of the prophets, nor had he been educated in the school of the prophets. The prophetic office was thrust upon him (Amos 7:14, 15). When the call came he exchanged the life of a shepherd and cultivator of sycamore trees for that of a prophet.