Joel 2:12,13 (NASB) “Yet even now,” declares the Lord , “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness And relenting of evil.
Regardless of what we have done, no matter how far we stray from Him, there He is, constantly, diligently calling us back to Him. Always there to embrace us once again, if we’ll simply soften our hearts and reach for Him. It is often times through difficulty, “plagues” that God gets our attention. In chapter 2 of Joel, He is showing us this method through the illustration of swarming locust devouring everything. The locusts are His well organized, efficient unrelenting army, used by Him to bring Israel low and to drive them back to Him. It seems cruel at first, but it was us who left Him, took our focus off of Him, strayed from His path and purpose, forgot our way and who directs it. Yet, in 12 and 13, He is giving us the opportunity to change that. If we render our hearts, not just dress up and play the part, really lay bare our hearts to Him, he will deliver us from the army He sends against us.
Joel 2:25-27 (NASB) Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; Then My people will never be put to shame. Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, And that I am the Lord your God, And there is no other; And My people will never be put to shame.
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy,
Scott Pace
