Joel 1-3 | God's Willingness To Relent

As a nation and as individuals, we deserve nothing less than the judgment of God. We mock Him, ignore Him, and even fight against Him. We are the creatures of His creation, and yet we “worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator.” In our pride, we do not take our rightful place but try to climb upon the throne of God and take His.

GOD KNOWS US

He understands our frame and knows our tendency to evil. This is why He has provided a Savior, at the cost of His Son’s life. He is willing to forgive and restore us IF we will return to Him.

Joel gave this prophecy to God’s people. This was a nation that God had delivered and spared again and again. Once more, they had turned from God, and Joel, speaking for God, reminds them of why they were seeing such devastation in their land. But in the middle of his proclamations, there is an astounding promise in Joel, Chapter 2.

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,

“Return to Me with all your heart,

And with fasting, weeping, and mourning;

13 And rend your heart and not your garments.”

Now return to the Lord your God,

For He is gracious and compassionate,

Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness

And relenting of evil.

14 Who knows whether He will not turn and relent

And leave a blessing behind Him.

“YET EVEN NOW”

… is an amazing transitional phrase to an astounding display of God’s mercy. He has no desire that anyone should perish and is longing to redeem His people. But they must return to Him with all their heart.

Joel’s prophecy is like reading the paper this morning. And God’s promise is still the same. We must repent and pray. We must do as Joel prescribed.

15 Blow a trumpet in Zion,

Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation,

Assemble the elders,

Gather the children and the nursing infants.

Let the bridegroom come out of his room

And the bride out of her bridal chamber.

17 Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers,

Weep between the porch and the altar,

And let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord,

And do not make Your inheritance a reproach,

A byword among the nations.

Why should they among the peoples say,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

For the sake of God’s glory, for our good, and for the salvation of millions who need to hear the gospel, the church must repent and return. God is graciously waiting to forgive our sins and heal our land.

Father, forgive us. Open our eyes to the depth of our rebellion against You. Give us grace to return to You and let us return with “all our heart.”