Experiencing the Love of God?

As I've been watching the latest meltdown in America, I've been thinking about its meaning. Right now, our financial markets are teetering on the brink of failure. As I look back over the past few years, we've seen our nation suffering through much internal turmoil as well as terrorist attacks and the wars which have ensued. We've seen more than our share of natural disasters including unprecendented hurricane damage, droughts, repeated flooding throughout the midwest and wildfires out west. Now we see the American economy shaken to its very foundations as real estate loses value by the day, the stock market runs up and down like an amusement park thrill ride, fuel prices remain near record highs, and consumer confidence is at an all-time low. What are we to make of all of it?

In Amos 4, the prophet spoke these words to Israel on behalf of the Lord:

"I brought hunger to every city and famine to every town.
But you still would not return to Me," says the Lord.

"I kept rain from falling when your crops needed it most.
I sent rain on one town but withheld it from another.
Rain fell on one field, while another field withered away.
People staggered from town to town looking for water,
But there was never enough.
But you still would not return to Me," says the Lord.

"I struck your farms and vineyards with blight and mildew.
Locusts devoured all your fig and olive trees.
But you still would not return to Me," says the Lord.

"I sent plagues on you like the plagues I sent on Egypt long ago.
I killed your young men in war and led all your horses away.
The stench of death filled the air.
But you still would not return to Me," says the Lord.

"I destroyed some of your cities, as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
Those of you who survived were like charred sticks pulled from a fire.
But you still would not return to Me," says the Lord.

Sound familiar? In all of these disasters, God's desire was for Israel to repent and return to Him. All that God did, He did in love. All of the economic upheavel, the wars, the droughts and other natural disasters were the tools of a merciful God trying desperately to to get His people to turn away from their selfish, sinful ways and come back to Him.

Is it any different today?