In the Shadow of the Cross

We see in the book of Joel, that the nation of Israel was in continual disobedience to God. The nation as a whole turned its back on God. God, through His sovereignty sent locusts. The locusts had devoured all of the plant life and vegetation in Israel. This was devastating to the people, obviously since agriculture was adversely affected. The people were in dire need of food and their spirits were sunken.
This disaster was brought upon this nation because of their continual disobedience. Israel was the nation set apart by God. But it was this same God, who is in control of everything, who allowed this disaster to happen to Israel. It was Israel’s wake up call, a call for repentance. In fact, in the second half of Chapter 1 of Joel, God calls on this nation to repent of their sinfulness and their willful disobedience.

It was customary, and still is in Jewish culture to tear a piece of clothing when someone you cared for has died or if some tragedy occurred. But God in Chapter 2 of Joel instructs them to rend their hearts and not their clothing. Their hearts were no longer on their God. They had left God and indulged in idolatry, dishonesty, hostility, etc. Their hearts were far away and devoid of any sense of accountability to God. God then sent the locusts and it devastated them. A blow was struck against their rebellion. God then asks them to immediately repent.

“Even now, declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning”. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to me your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slowto anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity”.
( Joel 2 12-13 NIV)

This same scenario applies today for this nation. Have we as a nation been rebellious, sinful and disobedient to our God? Yes, we have. It doesn’t take a long time to see our national or corporate apathy in matters of ; the sanctity of marriage, abortion, dishonesty, etc. This chapter in Joel applies to us today. God is calling us to return to Him with mourning and weeping.
Notice the command – “even now…return to Me.” There is immediacy in this command. We need to repent now! Right now. Our hearts need to be rung, or in other words, our hearts need to be broken, full of remorse and contrition.

Rending of the hearts instead of garments requires first that we recognize that my individual sins or corporate sins are ours. This disobedience creates a barrier between us and our God, (or between me and my God). This barrier is growing larger and taller with each passing day. However, God will accept your plea of repentance, and tear down this barrier. Our Lord Jesus Christ, is the way to establish or re-establish this connection to our God. Jesus says this Himself in John.

“….My sheep listen to My voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, an they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
(John 10: 27-30 NIV)

Remember the locusts? They created problems for Israel for years. But after the repentance occurred, God restored that nation. He did not hold a grudge or continue with the disaster. God made a promise this His people.

“Then the Lord will be jealous for His land and take pity on His people The Lord will reply to them. “I am sending you grain, new wine, and oil, enough to satisfy you fully. Never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations.

God restored this people, but the restoration occurred after the repentance. What is repentance? It is a full 180 degree change of heart, mind and action. It is what Paul described as a new man in Romans. Joel says it in Chapter 2: 12-13 “…return to Me with all your heart.”
The person who does return to God with all their heart is the truly repentant person. Is there unrepentant sin in your life? I think most of us wish we had a rewind button or a “do over” in our life. We wishfully imagine a capability of just pushing this “do over” button and go back in time to allow us an opportunity to do an event or handle a situation much differently. Unfortunately we have no rewind or “do over” button in life. But we do have the promise of God that He will restore the relationship we had with Him, after we do a full self examination and repent of our sins and accept our Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

What ramification does this hold for us as a nation? Are we in an apathetic stupor of not caring about things that God cares about? Is this not sinful? Will God send locusts? Is there any correlation between the recent Tsunami and the disobedience of people in that part of the world? Is God sending us ‘wake up” signals? One can argue that God is indeed sending us a wake up call? Only God knows that answer. But we can learn from Joel that God certainly has no tolerance for national disobedience. Israel was a nation set apart by God Himself, but they were not immune from His wrath. Are we so arrogant here in the United States to assume that we are immune from God’s judgment?

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All Rights Reserved.

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