Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.
Has not the food been cut off before our very eyes— joy and gladness from the house of our God? The seeds are shriveled beneath the clods. The storehouses are in ruins, the granaries have been broken down, for the grain has dried up. How the cattle moan! The herds mill about because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep are suffering.
To you, Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness.

When God’s judgment, here, came on the Israelites, it was totally evident because of the complete devastation of it. Some of these Israelites must have been pretty dense not to recognize this was an event of Godly proportions, when the animals are groaning and the land is barren from locusts, and fire, and other devastation.

I can relate here. Sometimes God has to teach me things over and over again. I can be pretty dense too. The good thing is he loves me and calls me his child anyways. However, he wants me to learn from my mistakes and to become stronger in my faith.

Part of Joel’s appeal here is for these people to WAKE UP and GROW UP in their faith. They need to trust God first and not their own strength or people around them.

One of the takeaways I have here is that I’d rather be Joel than the people who were not following God. Joel knows what God is doing because he is close to God’s heart. This is a good model for me, as well. I don’t need to worry as much about the end times or knowing exactly when Jesus is going to come back. Instead, I’m to be found alert and active in my faith.

Lord, help me to know you deeper and understand your heart more. I want a closer relationship with you. Show me what I must sacrifice in my own life to draw closer to you. Teach me to listen and learn from my mistakes. And help me to be like Joel, a lighthouse calling out to those around to repent or the judgment of the Lord will come on them.