When your action backfires

We have been fed passages from Amos and gained the impression that he was a social critic. He prophesized against Israel and the rich who exploited the poor of the land. When we read the whole book this week, we form a somewhat different impression. Today, I would like to collect from Amos passages which tell us that God would frustrate our evil plans.
For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel:
"Seek me and live; but do not seek Bethel, and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beersheba;
for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nought." (Amos 5:4-5)
Therefore because you trample upon the poor and take from him exactions of wheat,
you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine (Amos 5:11).
Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why would you have the day of the LORD?
It is darkness, and not light;
as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him;
or went into the house and leaned with his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him (Amos 5:18-19).
O you who put far away the evil day, and bring near the seat of violence? (Amos 6:3)
Do horses run upon rocks? Does one plow the sea with oxen?
But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood --
you who rejoice in Lodebar, who say, "Have we not by our own strength taken Karnaim for ourselves?"
"For behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel," says the LORD, the God of hosts;
"and they shall oppress you from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of the Arabah." (Amos 6:12-14)
What conclusion can we draw from these passages?
One sentence: 謀事在人，成事在天。
Whatever our plans, if they bend justice, God will frustrate us. If they do not follow God's will, God will surely not be happy. He will allow the plans to go all the way to fruition. Then, they backfire and burn us. God will allow us to build pleasant vineyards, but we shall not drink their wine. God will allow us to carry out our selfish plans, but God will extract a high price from us.

These days, our boss seems to have emerged from his depression which has lasted a long time. He has successfully brought down his subordinates. A different person has surfaced, more lively, more friendly. Yet, he will be leaving us soon. Too little, too late. Six long years have been wasted.

My Advocate, I pray for his best. May he realize his ideals in the new posting. May he get along well and make everyone he meets a little bit happier, a little bit more fulfilling. Amen.