Overtaking the Reaper

My Bible study group has begun a study in the Old Testament of the major and minor prophets. I have to confess, however, that I have never been a big fan of these writers. It seems that they are inevitably gloomy with their dire predictions of fire, hail, and brimstone upon the current generation of Israelites who have turned away from God yet again. I set about my study of Amos yesterday though with a deliberate attempt to find something different within its nine chapters. I believe it came near the end of the book with this verse, "'Behold, the days are coming'" says the Lord, / 'When the plowman shall overtake the reaper.'" "What could those words possibly mean?" I ask myself.

As in any biblical passage, I am sure multiple interpretations are possible, but I would like to offer at least one. I think about the groups of people in the historical past who have plowed the fields. In America, those groups would be African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American most likely. The reaper, on the other hand, would have likely been Anglo. Whether we believe the Bible is literal or symbolic, the lesson seems clear--and supported by the latest ethnic predictions of growth and change for our country. Sociologists tells us that indeed we Anglos will be in the minority in the future, overtaken, if you will, by the minorities.

I would like to believe by this time we will have truly changed our thinking and realize that we are all indeed Americans and not continue to divide ourselves by the color of our skin any longer. Perhaps I am going with this interpretation because our group today is also focusing on the writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.--his "I Have a Dream" speech, his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," and his last sermon at the Washington National Cathedral. In these writings, King stresses the need in non-violent protests for the participants examine themselves very closely. They need to see if they have the will to go forward in dangerous circumstances even if it means possible death or imprisonment.

It seems that as our ethnicity in America changes we have two choices: to knit ourselves together into what King calls a "single garment of destiny," or to "kick against the goads" and resist. I hope it will be the first. I believe in the reality of the prophet Amos's words.