Forgiveness And Restoration

Joel 2:18–27
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Remember what this book is about. The land of Israel is being overrun by hungry locusts. The crops are destroyed. There is nothing left. And it’s because of God’s punishment upon them for leaving their first love. These people have deserved to lose God’s blessing on the land because they took Him out of first place in their lives. The book of Revelation says that God is just in His judgements; that is, He is right in what He does. So, these people deserved what they had gotten. And when we disobey God or walk away or set up idols or ignore Him or get away from His leading, then He will use different tactics to call us back. This is because He loves us, not because He doesn’t.

Joel reached a turning point in his prophesy, moving from prophesying about an outpouring of God’s judgment to prophesying about an outpouring of God’s forgiveness and blessing (v. 18). He tells them how He will answer their prayers in three specific ways:

1. He will grant them renewed prosperity (v. 19).
2. He will remove their reproach from among the nation (v. 19).
3. He will remove the locust army (v. 20).

The Lord works wonders and does great things (v. 21). The land which had been devastated will be completely restored and the fruit trees will prosper (v. 22).  Rain will fall to irrigate the parched soil (v. 23), and the land will once more be  productive (v. 24). The destruction  brought by the locusts will be more than matched by the years of plenty ahead (v. 25-26). Even more important than this He will achieve His purpose and cause His people to know that He is in the midst of them and that He is their God (v. 27).

Application

I am thankful that when I stray from God He doesn’t give me what I deserve but because of His love and mercy His desire is to bring me back to Himself and His blessing.