Questions and Answers for KCSE Students on Prophet Amos

Comprehensive Questions and Answers for KCSE Students on Prophet Amos

Are you preparing for the KCSE exams and looking for insightful questions and answers about Prophet Amos? This guide provides a detailed overview of key themes, teachings, and significant events related to the life and ministry of Prophet Amos, making it an essential resource for students. Understanding the context and messages of Amos is crucial for mastering your C.R.E syllabus and excelling in your exams. This resource not only covers the major questions that frequently appear in KCSE papers but also offers clear and concise answers to help you grasp the important concepts.

By exploring the social justice themes, prophetic visions, and the historical context of Amos’s ministry, students can enhance their understanding and appreciation of this significant biblical figure. Whether you are revising for your exams or seeking to deepen your knowledge, this guide is tailored to meet your educational needs.

Key Topics Covered:

• The sins condemned by Prophet Amos
• The visions experienced by Amos
• Teachings on social justice and responsibility
• The significance of the “Day of the Lord”
• The remnant and restoration of Israel

This comprehensive approach ensures that you are well-prepared for any questions related to Prophet Amos that may arise in your KCSE examinations.

Outline the sins which prophet Amos condemned.

1. Selling into slavery those who could not pay their debts
2. The oppression of the poor and the weak
3. Sexual immorality
4. Hypocrisy/practicing empty religious rituals when peoples hearts are far from it
5. Exploitation of the poor. A state where the poor were poorer and the rich were becoming richer
6. Telling lies/dishonesty
7. Misusing the house of God/profaning/desecratior of the temple
8. Ill-treating the Nazarites and the prophets
9. Idol worship
10. Injustice where the poor, weak and down-trodder
11. Drunkenness
12. Cheating in business by use of false scales

List five visions that Amos saw concerning the coming judgment on the people of Israel.  (5marks)

1. Locust
2. Fire
3. The Plumb line
4. A basket of fruits
5. The lord standing at altar/God’s judgment on Israel           

(5x1=5marks)

Give reasons why prophet Amos was against the way the Israelites worshipped God  (10 marks)

1. They  gave empty sacrifices which did not reflect holy lives
2. They practiced syncretism
3. There was sincerity in worship/ hypocrisy
4. They  made idols/ worshipped idols
5. They built many high places  of worship for idols
6. They misused the temple by feasting drinking
7. They refused to listen to the  prophets  of God/ listened to false  prophets
8. They  misused the Sabbath
9. They practiced Temple prostitution               

(5 x 2 = 10 marks)

How does God reveal himself to Christians today?  (4 marks)

1. Through visions
2. Through dreams
3. By reading the  word of God/ bible
4. Listening to  preachers/ crusades/ observing role models
5. Through answering prayers miracles
6. Through  nature events/ calamities
7. Through the holy spirit/ the gifts  of the  Holy Spirit       

(4 x 1 = 4 marks)

State the teachings of Prophet Amos about the day of the Lord (8 marks)

1. It will be a day of terror and disaster
2. God will punish the Israelites for their disobedience/He will remember their evil deeds
3. The land shall tremble/there will be earthquakes
4. People will mourn/no happiness
5. The feasts and festivals will not be joyful
6. People will thirst/hunger for the word of GOD
7. People will faint in the process of searching for the word of God
8. It will be a day of disappointment to the Israelites
9. The wicked will not escape God’s judgement   

(4 x 2 = 8marks)

Outline the teaching of prophet Amos on social justice and responsibility  (8marks)

1. The righteous could be sold for silver, the needy for a pair of shoes.
2. The rich women led luxurious lives and were unkind to the poor.
3. The rich women encouraged their husbands to exploit the poor.
4. The rich people took an excess share of the harvest from the farmers.
5. The rulers lived luxurious lives in good houses as the poor suffered thus God would send them into exile.
6. The rulers were arrogant, trusted in material things, drunk wine when the poor had nothing to eat.
7. The judges were corrupt/took bribes from the rich.
8. The wealthy merchants cheated the poor by using false scales/selling the refuse.
9. The Israelites indulged in wine drinking/forced even those not supposed to drink, to do so.
10. Those who spoke the truth were hated.
11. Prophet Amos advised the people to seek good and avoid evil.
12. The Israelites indulged in a sexual immorality.
13. Prophet Amos advised against robbery with violence.
14. He advised against the misuse of the garments taken in pledge 

(8x1=8 marks)

Outline five teachings of Prophet Amos on the remnant and restoration of the Israelites (Amos 9:8-15). (5marks)

1. God would restore the dynasty of David after destruction.    
2. God would bring the people back to their land.
3. The people would rebuild their cities so that the remnant of Edom can occupy them.
4. The land would be reproductive/grapes will be in abundance /wine would be in plenty.
5. The people would grow food and harvest it.
6. The people of Israel would peaceful/prosperous.
7. The Israelites would never be taken into, exile again.

(5 x 1 = 5marks)

State the relevance of Prophet Amos’ teaching on election of Israel to Christians in Kenya today   (7 marks)

1. It is God who chooses them to be Christians.      
2. God chooses one to be a Christian from many others.
3. The Christians have been chosen by God to proclaim the good news /service.
4. God protects the from their enemies.     
5. Christians should be faithful/obedient to God
6. They will be punished by God if they do wrong.                        
7. They should always repent their sins/ask for forgiveness    
8. The priests/bishops /church leaders are chosen by God.    

(7x1=7 marks).

State four ways in which the rich oppressed the poor during the time of Prophet Amos. (8 marks)

1. The rich took people’s garment in pledge.
2. The poor were robbed of their food/gains/belongings
3. Merchants overcharged the poor when selling them anything.
4. The poor were sold for a piece of silver/air of shoes as they were considered useless.
5. The goods sold to the poor were unfit for human use/consumption/expired.
6. The poor were cheated in business deals as the rich used faulty scales/measures
7. The poor were sold into slavery when they were unable to pay their debts to the rich.
8. The poor were denied justice in the law courts because they could not bribe the judges.
9. The cases taken to the courts by the poor were thrown out/not listened to.

Describe the call of Amos to become a prophet of God in Israel. (8 marks)

1. Amos was a farmer tending sycamore trees/ shepherd
2. He came from a village called Tekoa in Judah
3. He became a prophet during the reign of king Hezzrah and jeroboam
4. God called him through a vision
5. He felt a strong compulsion to prophesy
6. He responded to God’s call in faith / obedience

Any 4x 2 = 4 marks

Give four reasons why prophet Amos was against the way the Israelites worshipped God. (8marks)

1. The Israelites had neglected God/prophets
2. They practiced insincere worship/had no inner faith.
3. The worshippers were not righteous/they mistreated fellow Israelites which was against God’s teaching.
4. They worshipped God as well as Baal/practiced syncretism.
5. They were impatient during the worship ceremony/wanted to go back to their  businesses
6. They gave sacrifices/offerings as a show off/ pride/ not for the love of God.
7. They had many ceremonial festivals/feasts.
8. They showed disrespect to the name of God through sexual immorality.
9. They defiled the place of worship.
10. Worshipped idols, gods/built high places for idol gods        

(4 x 2 = 8 marks)

State six ways in which God would punish Israel for her evils according to prophet Amos. (6marks)

1. Israel would be surrounded by an enemy nation.
2. The Israelites would be taken to exile.’
3. Amaziah, the Priest/King would die by the sword.
4. The Holy places of worship would be destroyed.
5. The land would be occupied by a foreign nation./conquered/invaded/destruction of the city
6. There would be hunger/thirst for the word of God.
7. God would cover the land with total darkness.
8. There would be earthquakes.

(6 x 1 = 6 marks)

How does the church in Kenya punish errant members? (6marks)

1. The church suspends them.
2. It denies them participation in the church activities/rituals.
3. They may be denied leadership positions/demoted/ withdrawal of priviledges
4. They may be publicly condemned/asked to repent/apologize
5. They may be warned.
6. Some may be transferred to difficult areas.
7. They may be sacked from the job.
8. They may be excommunicated.
9. They may be charged a fine

(6 x 1 = 6 marks)