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After reading these three small chapters in the book of Joel, do you think you could describe God in one word? If so, what would that word be?
The book of Joel reads like the screenplay from a disaster movie whereby we see swarms of locust, severe drought, famine, raging brush fires, invading armies, and astronomical catastrophes. But why? Why would God allow such calamitous events take place? Again, the answer is simple. They are starting to become spiritually lethargic and wayward - drifting away from God without really even noticing it. Yet God provides an ultimate reason for allowing such dramatic events to take place. Notice what He says at the end of the book in 3:17 - "Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, live in Zion."
God is ALWAYS looking for ways to bring His people back to Him. His chastisement doesn't start right away. He often gives people time to realize their sin and repent. But, His longsuffering lasts only so long. Then, God might start spanking in small ways, such as creating financial constraints, threats from others, and domestic unrest. But in the book of Joel, God has had to resort to extreme measures. Before having them plundered by an invading army, He starts off with a variety of plagues. Does this get their attention? No!
Joel, as one of God's prophets living during the reign of Joash, the king of Judah (835-796 B.C.), his ministry was focused primarily on getting the people of Judah to repent and get back to a relationship with God.
As we read Joel 1, we can see the continuous ripple effect of these plagues:
1) The plague of locusts! "What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.
I didn't realize there were different kinds of locust! But God did. And He allowed it to consume every bit of crop Judah had.
2) An invading Army! "For a nation has come up against My land, Strong, and without number; His teeth are the teeth of a lion, And he has the fangs of a fierce lion. He has laid waste My vine, And ruined My fig tree; He has stripped it bare and thrown it away; Its branches are made white."
After the locust consumed all of the crops, God allowed an army of marauders to descend on the people and stripped them bare of just about everything else!
If God was doing this in your life (and perhaps He is!), wouldn't you make haste to repent and get right with God? It only seems like common sense to do so.
3) The Priests are starving! "The priests mourn, who minister to the Lord. The field is wasted, The land mourns; For the grain is ruined..."
Since the days of Moses, it's always been customary (according to the Law of God given to Moses) that the priests who serve God in the Temple would receive a portion of the grain offering and of the meat offering. This is what fed them and their families. But when the people came to the Temple to bring their tithes and sacrificial offerings, they literally had nothing to give! These same priests are God's national leaders. They brought this dilemma on themselves for not preaching God's Word to the people.
4) National mourning! "The vine has dried up, And the fig tree has withered; The pomegranate tree, The palm tree also, And the apple tree— All the trees of the field are withered; Surely joy has withered away from the sons of men."
God's Answer To This Dire Situation
God isn't at all happy about having to do this to Judah. He deeply loves His people and is willing to forgive and forget, but only if they're willing to seek Him with all their heart.
Listen to God's recipe for a complete reversal - "Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the Lord your God, And cry out to the Lord."
Here Comes Even More Trouble!
In Joel 2, God says that if they don't fast and pray and repent of their sins, He will bring an army unlike anything the world has ever, or ever will see!
Listen to what He says about this scary army - "A people come, great and strong, The like of whom has never been; Nor will there ever be any such after them, Even for many successive generations."
And, like before, God provides a solution for them so that they can avoid this from happening. Notice what He says in 2:12-14 - "Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him."
God is willing to turn things around, but He wants to see a national call for repentance! But do they do it? No!
God Speaks Of Pentecost And The Holy Spirit!
God is always a God of hope! In the latter part of Joel 2, God speaks of a future day when things will change dramatically for the nation of Judah (and Israel) and He will pour out His blessing on them in ways they've never dreamed of. In fact, He tells of a future event where He will pour out His Spirit on them - which is what happened on the Day of Pentecost shortly after Jesus's death and resurrection!
Notice what God says through Joel - "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved."
This prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost as spoken of in Acts 2:16 - 21. Read it!
Joel 3 Speaks Of The 2nd Coming Of Christ!
God offers a warning to the nations that hurt Israel. He will return the favor! As you read the entire 3rd chapter, this is a picture of the battle Jesus will have with the nations of the world just prior to His millennial reign where He will sit on the throne in Jerusalem and rule the nations worldwide.
Notice what God says, "So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, And no aliens shall ever pass through her again.”
Even though tragedy will come to the entire nation of Judah and Israel, God tries to encourage His people that one day everything will be made right. He will take over the Earth and will set up His Kingdom allowing the world to see Him in His glory and power. I look forward to that day! For in that day, we (Christ-followers) shall rule and reign with Him for a thousand years!
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