Look what an incredible God we serve!

October 13, 2024
Pastor Jack

grains of wheat

Joel 2:18-32

Then Yahweh became jealous for his land and took pity on his people. And Yahweh answered and said to his people, “Look at me, I am sending to you grain, new wine, and olive oil, and you will be satisfied by it. I will not give you over any more as a disgrace among the nations. The northerners I will remove from you; I will drive them to a desert and desolate land, its front to the eastern sea, and its rear into the western sea; its stench and odor will rise up because he has done great things. Do not fear, O land, rejoice and be glad, because Yahweh has done great things. Do not fear, wild animals of the field, because the pastures of the desert have put forth new green shoots, because the tree has produced its fruit, the fig tree and the vine have yielded their produce. Be glad, O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in Yahweh your God, because he has given for you the autumn rains for your righteousness, and he has poured down for you rainwater, the autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be full with grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and olive oil. I will repay you the years that the locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my mighty troops that I sent against you. And you will eat abundantly and be satisfied, and praise the name of Yahweh your God, who has dealt with you wondrously. My people will never be ashamed. And you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and I am Yahweh, your God, and there is no other. My people will never be ashamed again. And it will happen afterward thus: I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your elders will dream dreams; your young men shall see visions. And also on the male slaves and on the female slaves, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. And I will set wonders in the heavens, and on earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be changed to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh. And it will happen—everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be rescued, because on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh said, and among the survivors whom Yahweh is calling.

This passage transitions from judgment to God’s promises of restoration, renewal, and spiritual outpouring, ending with a future vision of salvation.

Up to this point in Joel, things have been pretty bleak.
We have seen this army of locusts consuming the land.
The drought has turned everything to waste.

People are saying “Where is their God?”

Last week’s passage ended with Joel 2:17

Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O LORD,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’ ”

Something happened between verses 17 and 18; the people followed Joel and repented!

The Lord’s Pity and Restoration

Joel 2:18–20 (ESV):

18 Then the LORD became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. 19 The LORD answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations 20 “I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard into the eastern sea, and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things.

  • What is God doing here?
  • Is the restored grain, wine, and oil just to provide sustenance for the people?
    • What is the ultimate purpose of the restoration of these items?

Blessings of Renewal

Joel 2:21–27 (ESV):

21 “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things! 22 Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yiel 23 “Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as befor 24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. 26 “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. 27 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.

  • Describe what your mind sees when reading this passage.
  • Beyond the obvious restoration of the land, what has happened here?
  • What is the significance of the phrase “I am” here?
    • Read Exodus 3:14
    • What is God telling us in this statement?

The Outpouring of the Spirit

Joel 2:28–32 (ESV):

28  “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.

  • Read John 10:10 and Acts 2:1-4
    • If you continue on in Acts 2, you will see that Peter quotes Joel.
    • What connection do you see between Joel and Pentecost?
  • What is the meaning of the word “prophesy”?
  • What is the meaning of the “old men dreaming”?
  • So, “…sons and daughters…old men…and young men…male and female servants…” are all mentioned here. What’s going on. What does this mean to us?

Acts 2:38–39 (ESV): 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Joel, through his “I AM” reference, relates back to God’s promise to Moses of His eternal presense and sees that promise being fulfilled.
Peter, in Acts is telling us this promise is for all whom God calls to Himself who will repent and be baptized.

Are we willing to trust enough to accept it?

God will still judge the earth, but all who call on the Lord will be saved.

Have you called on the Lord?

Better than any drink or grain offering, Jesus is a sin offering for all time.
God saves us for His glory so we can say “Look what an incredible God we serve!”

Are you helping others see what an incredible God we serve?

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