Scripture Text: Joel 2:18-27
“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 am the LORD your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Joel 2:26-27, ESV
In the magazine Today’s Christian Woman, Linore Burkhard wrote of the
time she went for a walk with her two-year-old daughter. Suddenly the toddler
let go of her mother’s hand and began to run ahead, with her frantic mother
chasing close behind. The little girl was just about to step into a busy street
when she lost her balance and fell. As Burkhard stooped to pick her up, she
shuddered to think about what might have happened. She recognized a
surprising blessing and a valuable spiritual lesson in her daughter’s bruises
that she now attempted to soothe. “What we don’t see while we’re feeling pain
is God’s hidden purpose” Burkhard explained. “Sometimes, the very incident
we see as hurtful is God’s way of protecting us from worse harm.”
As we have seen, the devastation of the locust plague was intended to
move God’s people to genuine repentance. The wonderful promise was that
God would respond with zeal for the devastated land and pity for His afflicted
people, both objects of God’s jealousy and covenant promises (Joel 2:18).
This may seem surprising. The Bible often condemns jealousy in human
relationships. One of the chief differences between divine and human jealousy
is that human jealousy is self-centered. God’s jealousy is directed toward the
best interests of His people. Some have suggested that it might be easier to
understand God’s jealousy as zeal for those He loves. God does not want His
people to have anything other than Himself as the object of their worship. He
alone is God!
God’s ultimate desire was not to punish His people but to restore them
(Joel 2:25). He promised to send new wine, grain, and oil, He promised never
to make them an object of scorn among the nations. In addition, He promised
to drive the “army” (Joel 2:19-20).
Reflect
1. How do you see the hurtful things that are happening to us?
2. Do we see as His protection and not to harm you?
3. Do you treat it as the loving Father who disciplines you and the result
is always for your good?
Remember
God may not shield us from the results of our sinful actions, but He will
forgive and accept as His children all those who come to Him by faith in
Christ.
Read
Exodus 34:14; 1 Corinthians 10:22; Romans 13:13; 2 Corinthians
12:20
Pray
Heavenly Father, let me always understand that the painful happenings
that I experienced and go through is Your way of love for me. And that is not to
harm me but protect and Your ultimate goal not to punish me but to protect
me. Make my eyes see the beauty of Your love in all Your ways. Let me
always fix my sight on Your Son, Jesus Christ, who though endured hardships
and even death on the cross saw Your love and presence towards Him. This I
pray in Your Son’s Name and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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