In Amos 6:12, we read, “Shall horses run upon the rocks? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock.”
At the time of Amos, most horses were not given metal shoes like they are today. The wealthy person might put gold ones on his horse, and some armies put leather shoes on their horses. These went over the entire hoof like shoes that we wear. But leather and gold are soft. They were more for show than they were for protection.
The horse has a very soft spot in the center of his foot. If the horse attempts to run on rocks, he will bruise this soft tissue. This tissue is very sensitive. When it is bruised the horse has a very difficult time walking. Therefore, people at the time of Amos did not run their horses on very rocky ground.
God says that the Israelites are like the horse on rocky ground. They have worshipped idols. They have broken many of God’s commandments. They have become very immoral. And yet, they still want to believe that they are God’s people and that nothing bad will happen to them. But all of their sins are like the rocky ground. They cannot live (run) on these rocks without harming themselves. And God will hold them accountable for putting themselves in this situation.
I know you want to obey God. Read your Bible. Learn all you can. Do not be the like a horse that runs on rocks. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
