An Unusual Army The Can Not Be Defeated

Imagine being attacked by an army so great that as it marches forward it destroys everything in its path. Its opponent is helpless. They have no way of defending themselves. The prophet Joel, who’s book is thought to be one of the earliest prophetic books written, describes this army. He says, “A nation has invaded my land, a mighty army without number; it has the teeth of a lion, the fangs of a lioness…”

This great army was sent upon Judah by God because of their sin. This unconventional army was a continuous swarm of locus, an army without number. They ate everything in the land; all the crops, the trees, plants, nothing was left. The locus even got into the people’s houses, they were everywhere. As a result the people of Judah had no food, the animals had no food, there was no wine, and there was death all over the country.

Joel called the people to lament before God,  “Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar...Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” Their plea for God’s help went like this, “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 the fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness.”

Joel spoke of judgment and restoration. This prophecy speaks to us today. Joel says, “Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming.” But he gives hope, “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” I see all sorts of lessons in the prophecy of Joel.

Our God loves us more than we will ever know, despite our sin. He is abounding in love for you.
He is gracious. He wants to give us the gift of salvation, much more than we want it.
Because of his desire to save us he is slow to become angry. He is so patient with us. He forgives us over and over and over again. Joel says at the end of Chapter 2, “And everyone who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
We as individuals must get serious about our sin, our laziness, stop making excuses and return to the house of God, to worship him, confess our sin, repent, and turn from our wicked ways. We must cry out to the Lord our God. I see this beginning with pastors, elders and deacons in the churches. They must model how we should react because of the depravity of our nation and because of our own apathy. If the church leaders don’t demonstrate an attitude of brokenness by mourning over the evil state of our nation and our society then the people will not either. When together we do this he will forgive us and heal us spiritually.
We must admit to God that we are helpless and that he is our only hope. Get rid of our pride. As I am around God’s people and watch them and look at myself I see a lot of pride. We are not depending on God as we should.
God wants and expects us to come before him with broken hearts, admitting our guilt, as well as our helplessness. He wants us to examine ourselves and commit ourselves to him asking Him to change us. God is full of grace and compassion abounding in love. So why don’t we stop fighting and bickering among ourselves, and come to the only one who can save us from the mess we have made?