"COWS OF BASHAN"

“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’” Amos 4:1

I never read this passage without being amused initially by imagining some preacher today getting up and referring to the ladies of the congregation as cows. I don’t think it would go over to well in our politically correct culture. One may wonder from our cultural perspective if the prophet was just indifferent or frustrated or angry or compassionless or just plain rude or even all of the above. Calling them cows might be one thing, but calling them cows of Bashan is in a different class altogether.

Bashan was an extremely fertile land east of the Sea of Galilee. Rainfall was above normal for the region making its volcanic soil rich. It produced much of the grain consumed in that area of the world. Consequently, livestock bred and raised in Bashan were among the biggest (fattest) in the world because they were well-fed and watered.

Understanding the prophet’s geographical reference helps us to understand the content of his message. Today, if he were delivering the same message, especially if he wanted to be politically correct (and by all means let’s!), he would have referred to them as “fat cats.” He was not referring to their dress size when he called them “cows of Bashan!” He was referring to their insatiable lust and power as part of the ruling class who abused the poor and needy seeking more of what they had plenty of, when in fact, could have done with less (4:6). The underlying cause of their rampant materialism is the same as ours today – they had turned from serving God with their whole heart and were no longer seeking Him (“yet you did not seek me” see 4:6, 8, 9, 10, 11). Yet they would have denied it because they were relying on their rituals (see 4:4-5 – i.e. “going to church”). If we seek God with our hearts, honoring His will by obedience to His word, and our lights will shine for all to see. Is your light shining?