Joel 1 -- Sounds Like Texas Right Now

Joel could have been writing about our area today.  His descriptions of his land were of multiple crop failures and drought precipitated by a locust invasion.  But the root cause was Israel’s movement away from God.  Like a good parent, God warned, but now it was time for discipline.

There was nothing left of the land.  The trees had even died.  The people hadn’t even realized that they already were being invaded by the locusts as Joel described; in much the same way, they hadn’t realized what their sin had done to bring on the punishment.  God’s warnings had fallen on deaf ears.

Offerings would stop because they’d grown nothing to offer, if they ever turned back to God.

Fire, just like in Texas, had burned up the pastures and trees, leaving nothing for livestock to eat.  Even the wild animals were in danger of death.

What Israel didn’t know was that the locust invasion was really a figure for the army invasion that was to follow.  They only thought they were having it bad.  Their ignoring of God held much worse consequences, however.  For though physically they were suffering, spiritually they were endangering their souls for eternity.

We may not like to think of God in this way – disciplining with such severity, but in actuality, it shows His great love for His children – that He would go to such extremes to bring them back to Himself.

Father, as my Bible’s sidebar says, these warnings were like flashing red lights on a car’s dashboard – ignored at our peril.  I know sometimes I too can be stubborn and willful, choosing to sin despite all Your warnings.  Please crank up the volume and make those lights larger and brighter, Father.  For as my sidebar says, “We have just enough of the rascal in us to believe we are the proverbial exception to the rule.”  And I know I’m good at that, Father.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford