Scripture Reading(s)
Joel 2:23-32
2:23 O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before.
2:24 The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
2:25 I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you.
2:26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
2:27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
2:28 Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
2:29 Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit.
2:30 I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.
2:31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.
2:32 Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.
Reflections
God longs to pour out His blessings to His children. Here we see God declaring that He will bless the nation of Israel in abundant ways. Not only will He provide for them but He is also letting go of their past sins which had previously caused God’s wrath. He has forgiven them and is now extending to them all the promises that He made when He first brought them out of Egypt.
The most beautiful part of this passage is found in verse 26-27 ” You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame.” God is declaring that the world will know that He is their God and the God overall the earth.
Israel was under the protective and loving hand of our Heavenly Father and that applies to us as well. We too belong to the family of God and we also can find our rest in knowing that our safety is found in the hands of the one who has the ultimate authority over everything in this world.
I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you.
The story of Job is often compared to the story of Israel. Job was a follower of God and he was afflicted greatly by the Lord. But in the end Job was restored and greatly blessed. Likewise, Israel was dominated by the Babylonians and were sent into captivity. Yet, the Lord says to them that He will bless them richly after their time of discipline is over.
Like any good parent God does not desire to discipline His children. He desires to bless them. Yet, discipline is necessary. However, we should rest assured that the Lord really want to bless us. What ever our situation is, it is not the end of the story. God has great things in store for you and all His children.
[Featured image from biblesreen.com]