Joel 3 -- A Matter Of Perspective

There’s a man who keeps writing letters to the editor of the Abilene Reporter-News, and he seems to have made it his life’s mission to put down Christianity.  He also “happens” to be on the newspaper’s editorial committee or something like it, so he seems to get all the press time he wants.  He recently wrote another column complaining again about Christianity’s belief in “bureaucratic interference between God and humanity”.  He also always, in a purposefully disrespectful way, refers to God as “She”.

As I read this final chapter of Joel and noticed all of the actions God promised, I don’t believe I’d characterize what He says He will be doing as bureaucratic interference:

“I will make things better for Judah and Jerusalem …

I will gather all the nations together … I will judge them, because those nations scattered My own people Israel and forced them to live in other nations … divided up My land … threw lots for My people … traded boys for prostitutes … sold girls for wine … Tyre and Sidon -- … I will very quickly do to you what you have done to Me … You sent my people to that faraway place, but I will get them and bring them back, and I will do to you what you have done to them.  I will sit to judge all the nations on every side … The Lord will be a safe place for His people, a strong place of safety for the people of Israel ... Egypt and Edom killed My people, so I will definitely punish them.”

That’s not bureaucratic interference.  That’s justice.  That’s love for His people.  That’s the kind of God I want.

Father, thank You for opening my eyes when I thought I was being oh so wise.  I didn’t know just how stupid and uninformed I was.  It’s all a matter of perspective, and I’m so glad You moved me to a place where I can see You from the right perspective.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford