Can Two Walk Together, Except They Be Agreed?

(Amos 3:3)

Can Two Walk Together, Except They Be Agreed?

(Amos 3:3)

Amos, the prophet from Tekoa, asked a probing question in Amos 3:3 that resonates deeply with the relationship between man and God. He inquired, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Here, Amos was speaking directly to the spiritual condition of Israel, a people who had forsaken their covenant with God, choosing idolatry and sin over obedience and righteousness. The question Amos posed not only confronted their failure but also laid a foundational truth for all time: Agreement with God is necessary for fellowship.

The Necessity of Agreement for Fellowship

Walking together implies fellowship, unity, and a shared purpose. Throughout scripture, the idea of walking with God carries deep significance. Enoch “walked with God” (Genesis 5:24), and Noah was a “just man” who also walked with Him (Genesis 6:9). These men were in agreement with God’s commands, living in obedience to His will. They did not walk their own paths; rather, they walked in step with God, agreeing to His terms, laws, and purposes.

When Amos asked this question, the context was clear: Israel was no longer in agreement with God. They had broken the covenant established at Sinai, a covenant that required their faithful obedience to His law. To walk with God means more than acknowledging Him. It requires complete submission to His will, a will fully revealed in His Word.

Israel’s Broken Covenant

In Deuteronomy 28, God laid out the terms of the covenant—blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Israel had agreed to walk in accordance with God’s commandments (Exodus 24:7-8). However, by the time Amos delivered his message, Israel had strayed far from that agreement. Their actions—engaging in idolatry, injustice, and oppression—were in direct contradiction to the very law they had pledged to uphold.

Amos’s rhetorical question underscores the reality of their condition. They could not walk with God because they were no longer in agreement with Him. They had chosen a different path, and as a result, fellowship was broken. The principle is the same today. Just as Israel could not walk with God while living in rebellion, so too, no Christian can claim to walk with God while disregarding His Word.

The Consequences of Disagreement

When two do not agree, they cannot walk together. Amos follows his question with a series of illustrations: Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a bird fall in a snare where no trap is set? These questions highlight the inevitability of judgment. Israel’s rebellion had consequences. Their failure to walk in agreement with God would lead to their downfall, as the prophet clearly warned in the verses that follow.

God is long-suffering, but His justice demands accountability. Israel’s refusal to repent would result in captivity and destruction. They had been given ample warnings through the prophets, but their hardened hearts led them away from God. The consequences of walking in disagreement with God are not limited to ancient Israel. For Christians today, walking outside of God’s will leads to spiritual separation. 1 John 1:6 makes this plain: “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” Agreement with God’s Word is necessary to maintain fellowship.

Walking in disagreement with God will eventually lead to judgment, both in this life and in the life to come. If a Christian refuses to align themselves with the commands of scripture, they walk in darkness, and God’s light has no fellowship with darkness (1 John 1:5).

Doctrinal Unity Among Brethren

This principle of agreement is not only necessary for an individual’s relationship with God but also for fellowship within the church. The church, the body of Christ, must walk together in unity. Paul admonished the Corinthian church to be “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). Doctrinal agreement is essential for maintaining fellowship among brethren. The early church “continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine” (Acts 2:42), showing that unity and agreement are founded upon adherence to the truth of God’s Word.

Division arises when Christians stray from sound doctrine. When individuals or congregations introduce teachings or practices contrary to scripture, fellowship is broken. Unity among brethren is not based on feelings or subjective experiences but on a shared commitment to the truth. Paul urged the Ephesians to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Such unity is possible only when there is agreement on the foundation of God’s Word.

Tolerating doctrinal error for the sake of superficial peace is futile. True peace can only be achieved when all parties are in agreement with scripture. Anything less is a departure from the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

Walking in Agreement with God Today

What does it mean for a Christian to walk in agreement with God today? It means aligning our lives with the teaching of scripture. God has revealed His will through the inspired Word, and Christians must study diligently to understand and apply that Word. As 2 Timothy 2:15 teaches, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Walking with God requires more than passive belief. It requires active obedience. Just as Israel was called to uphold the covenant, Christians are called to live according to the New Testament pattern. Agreement with God involves submission to His authority, a rejection of worldly practices, and a faithful adherence to the truth of His Word. Without such agreement, one cannot walk with God, and spiritual fellowship is impossible.

Conclusion

The prophet Amos asked, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” The answer is clear. Agreement with God’s will is essential for fellowship with Him. Israel’s failure to walk in agreement led to their downfall, and the same principle holds true for Christians today. To walk with God, we must live in full submission to His Word, aligning our lives with His divine will. Disagreement with God’s commands breaks fellowship, and the consequences are severe.

Furthermore, doctrinal unity is necessary for the church to walk together in fellowship. Brethren must be united in the truth, holding fast to the sound doctrine delivered through the apostles. Only by walking in agreement with God’s Word can we maintain fellowship with Him and with one another. Let us strive to walk in the light of God’s truth, fully agreed with His Word, that we may enjoy the blessings of eternal fellowship with our Creator.