June 3 - Joel 1:13-20

June 3 - Joel 1:13-20

The priests are told to wail. There isn't enough grain or livestock to pour out offerings before the Lord. They are to mourn and to call the people to a sacred assembly - a day long fast. All of the leaders, all of the people are to come together to do nothing other than cry out to the Lord. There is to be no work, no food, nothing except crying out to the Lord for forgiveness.

The locust plague represents so much more than the destruction of the land by a swarm of insects. This is God's judgment against the disobedience of Israel. God's name in Joel 1:15, 'Almighty' is translated from 'Shaddai.' This is God the Provider. How easy it is to forget that He is the Creator, the Provider, the Almighty. We not only take His gift to us of life for granted, we seem to believe that He owes us something for our lives here on earth. We would never choose to fast in mourning and repentance. If we choose to fast, we do it to get God's attention and draw it to a specific need.

Joel tells the people of Israel that their actions have brought them to the point of final destruction. The Day of Judgment by the same Creator that made this earth is near. Our actions will continue to spur us further and further along the path of Destruction. It is time to stop and repent. The thing is, what God wants is not perfection, but pliable, loving hearts that are willing to allow Him to be in relationship with us. He isn't asking us to follow specific rules and regulations as we move through our lives. He simply wants us to walk closely enough with Him that He can guide our steps so that we are walking within His will.

The next verses of this chapter resound with sorrow. Food has been cut off, there is no joy in the house of God, crops are destroyed, cattle can't grain because everything is in ruins and even the sheep who graze in the pastures are suffering. (Joel 1:16-18)

The destructive fire of the Lord has destroyed everything that was left and even the streams have dried up. What is next? It seems as if this is enough, doesn't it?