Amos 2
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Listen. A long time ago, there lived a man. His name was Amos. Amos was a shepherd. He took care of sheep and looked at the stars.
But one day, God spoke to Amos. God said: Amos, I have something to say. You must tell it to the people.
Amos listened well. And then he went. He walked to the towns and to the people.
Amos said: Listen! God sees everything. God sees when people are kind. And God sees when people are mean.
There was a country called Moab. The people there did bad things. They were not kind. God was sad about that.
There was a country called Judah. The people there had a book from God. It was a beautiful book. But they did not listen to the book. They forgot God. God was sad about that too.
And there was the country of Israel. That was God's own people! But oh, oh, oh. They did very sad things. They pushed poor people down. They were not nice to the little ones. They did not share their bread.
What Does This Mean?
God had done so much for His people. God had held them by the hand. God had given them food. God had given them a home.
But the people forgot. They thought only about themselves.
And God said: I see it. I see everything. Being mean is not okay. Not sharing is not okay. Forgetting Me hurts.
God is not angry for no reason. God is sad because He loves His people so much.
The Common Thread
Long, long after Amos, Someone else came. Someone very special. His name was Jesus.
Jesus saw the poor people. Jesus saw the little children. Jesus said: Come to Me!
Jesus hugged the children. Jesus gave bread to the hungry. Jesus was never mean. Jesus was full of love.
Amos told God's people: come back to God. And Jesus came to bring us back to God. Jesus makes everything good again.
For You
Do you know what God likes? God likes it when you share. When you give a piece of your cookie. When you help mommy. When you are gentle with your little brother or sister.
God sees everything you do. Not to catch you. But because He loves you so much.
And if something goes wrong? If you were mean? You can tell God. God listens. God forgives. God holds your hand again.
Talk About It
Who can you be kind to today? Can you think of someone?
What do you want to say thank you to God for?
Praying Together
Dear God,
Thank You that You see me.
Thank You that You love me.
Help me to be kind.
Help me to share.
Thank You for Jesus.
Amen.
Questions about Amos 2
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Amos 2 about?
What does Amos 2 say?
What does Amos 2 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from Amos 2?
Why is Amos 2 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
Moab's crime was done to a corpse. They burned the bones of Edom's king, a cruelty against someone who could never fight back or complain. No one avenged him. God did. "Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet."
The dignity you deny a person who cannot answer you is still heard in heaven.
But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets, saying, 'Don't prophesy!'"
Israel's sin was not only breaking God's law, but pressuring others to break theirs. They handed wine to those who had vowed to abstain, and told the prophets to keep quiet.
Ask yourself: whose conscience have you tried to soften so yours would feel less alone? Whose warning voice have you wanted silenced because it stung?
He who handles the bow won't stand. He who is swift of foot won't escape. He who rides the horse won't deliver himself."
The skilled, the fast, the mounted, all the things you would bet your life on, God says none of them will save you on that day. Amos speaks this to Israel at the height of their confidence.
What are you quietly trusting to get you out of trouble? Your quick thinking, your reputation, your ability to outrun the consequences? There is a strange mercy in learning early that these cannot carry you. Only the Lord can.
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
Open in the Children's Bible tool
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