Then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. The Lord replied to them: “I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations. “I will drive the northern horde far from you, pushing it into a parched and barren land; its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea. And its stench will go up; its smell will rise.” Surely he has done great things! Do not be afraid, land of Judah; be glad and rejoice. Surely the Lord has done great things! Do not be afraid, you wild animals, for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches. Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭AMP‬‬
But this I call to mind, Therefore I have hope. It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, Because His [tender] compassions never fail. [Mal 3:6] They are new every morning; Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness. [Is 33:2]

Whoa! How amazing is the grace of God. His mercies are new every morning! What a complete and utter peace is found in knowing his forgiveness. What purpose and goodness is found after turning our hearts to him!

We see the result of God staying his wrath and forgiving the Israelites. This goes directly counter to some of the points of view that ask, “How can there be a good God with such evil in the world?” The hard part of this question is the part that is assumed before asking it. It assumes that the asker is a “good person”. But what they typically mean is they are “good enough” by their own standards or the comparative world standards.

This assumption puts us into the role of at least a partial god (a good person who has a right to question an almighty my God), before asking the question. It is asked, as if we know what is best for God to do? But do we really? Do we have the same perspective as an all-knowing, omnipresent, and all-powerful God? Do we see all of time and space at the same time, like God does?

When we put ourselves in a real relationship with God, we can see the evidence of his love and grace in a fallen world. We see it right here in the book of Joel. Though the Israelites rejected him and treated his protection, provision, love, and favor with disdain, he was still merciful to them. And since he is unchanging in his nature, he is merciful to those who repent and rend their hearts to him today too.

God's loving kindness is unrelenting. And he is faithful though we fail him so. Just look at the blessings he showered the Israelites with: Forgiveness, food provisions, leading the massive army that was going to attack them, away and into destruction, and rain and abundant harvests for the future! Oh how wonderful and full are the blessings of God for his righteous followers!

Lord, thank you for this passage that reminds us that with repentance, even though we have rejected you in sin, we can receive your forgiveness and grace! Help me to pass on the forgiveness and grace I have received to others today!