Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel (Amos 4:12).
God gave idolatrous Israel chance, after chance, after chance, after chance to repent. Trying to jolt them into repentance, He withheld food and rain – yet they did not return unto Him (Amos 4:6-8). He blasted their crops with withering winds, disease, pestilence and locusts – yet they did not return (Amos 4:9-10a). He brought them military defeat – yet they did not return (Amos 4:10b-11).
Therefore, God tells Israel, “in view of your continued rejection of my mercy, I will withhold my judgment no longer. Prepare to meet thy God.” Are we squandering opportunities for repentance? If we prepare our hearts to repent now, we will not have to prepare to meet the wrath of God in judgment.