Joel is one of the minor prophets that can be summed up with one word – locusts. It is a little shocking to see that plagues of locust STILL ravage north Africa and the Middle East.
Destruction and disaster shouldn’t be shocking to us – it happens everyday on this fallen planet. Creation groans under the weight of sin. The place I want to take you as we spend a little time with Joel is God’s response to disaster.
If you want to slow me down before I get to God’s response to disaster, I would have to circle you back around to this veil of tears. If you want to show me pictures of the destruction that God allows, I would point you back to Genesis. God created paradise. Mankind ruined it when sin was chosen. The fall out has been dreadful. Whether the planet is trying to rip itself apart or the sinful inhabitants are doing it to themselves, the source for it is sin. Instead, look and see how God limits the destruction. Listen to these verses from Joel 2 where our God promises restoration.
18 Then the Lord will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people. 19 The Lord will reply to them: “I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations.
Remember there is no other end for our fallen world than physical death. That was never God’s plan. The fact that he sent Jesus as our Savior from sin is a testament to his love and mercy.
Want to hear more including between the prophet Joel and his connection with the end of the world? Prophetic perspective is an amazing study.
Please click HERE to find the slides for this week’s study.