Amos 4:8
So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
The verse pictures a drought in which rain was withheld from some places while allowed to fall on others, so that people from two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water, yet they were not satisfied and their thirst was not relieved. The scarcity left those in the dry cities traveling elsewhere to seek water, but even where water was found there was still not enough.
It belongs to God's recounting of His past dealings with crooked, unprepared Israel before the severest chastisement fell, meant to force home conviction of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. They were His chosen professing people, His chosen church professing His name, yet they despised His law, broke His commandments, and lived in perversity, injustice and inconstancy, wholly unprepared to meet God except for punishment.
The thirst and scarcity was a warning, judgment, and chastening from the Lord, and a sign of His displeasure toward those who disregarded His word and neglected His cause. Drought and other such calamities were sent as chastisements intended to turn Israel back to God.
In love and mercy mingled with justice and long-suffering, the affliction was meant to reclaim and save them by leading them to return to the Lord and seek God. It was meant to teach them to recognize His hand and His power to give or withhold, to value His gifts, and to trust in Him instead of trusting in man and in false gods. In this way individuals were given opportunity to repent, return and live before the stroke fell upon the nation. God's purpose in permitting agricultural distress, lack of food and water, and failure of crops is to lead men back to Him.
The chastening divides people into two classes, some who are led to trust in Him and others who pursue a wilful, disobedient course and do not return to Him. Israel still did not return to Him, refusing to repent despite judgment, even when this affliction came upon them. So nothing remained but the direst measures to bring them to their senses. When such warnings can no longer bring a nation to seek Him, it is blotted out and another takes its place.
The recital reveals the same character and manner of dealing God ever has toward His church and the world, with no variableness, the same yesterday and today and forever. It calls people now to recognize His hand in hardship and return to Him.