Hope For The Repentant Heart
Joel 2:13 says, “And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”
The prophet Joel had already described the great devastation to Israel’s agriculture by the four different species or stages of locusts (Joel 1:4), and how he called the nation to mourn and lament because of their rebellion against God. Joel uses these events to show them that there is hope and blessings if they would turn back to God with all their hearts, “and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning” (v. 12). God always has His purpose for the trials and troubles that He sends our way (Rom 8:28).
Some may think it to be evil, “but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass” (Gen 50:20)! They are often His acts of mercy to call people’s attention and bring them to humble repentance (2 Chr 7:14). Joel explains to the people that the locust invasion was just a precursor “or the day of the Lord” (Joel 1:15). Often, most folks are so busy with so many things and labouring “to be rich” (Prov 23:4), that they ignore the spiritual significance of God’s wake-up calls. Because “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not” (2 Cor 4:4).
It may take someone else to point out what just happened in order for them to get the full impact of their troublous events! Surely, God “is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.” He can come and undo the devastation caused by the locusts. This would only be possible with genuine humility (Prov 15:33), and repentance. Therefore, Joel leaves the outcome in the hands of God (Ps 139:10). He never doubted or even questioned His tender mercies. Because the Lord promised to “repent of the evil that He thought to do unto them” (Jer 18:8), if they would turn from their wicked ways. The only requirement for repentance is genuine humility! God bless you!
-Pastor Melito Barrera
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