Tuesday 14 January 2014

Background

In these verses, the prophet Joel proclaims God's judgement onJudah in the context of a famine in the land (see Joel 1:16-20) andcalls them to show signs of repentance before the day of the Lordcomes.

The repentance Joel calls for seems similar to that preached by Jonah to the Ninevites, but there is no sign thatJoel's prophecy leads to the repentance that Jonah's did.

Joel, in common with many Old Testament prophets, is confidentthat events in the world can be interpreted as signs of God'sactivity. The famine Judah is experiencing is not merely a naturalevent, but is a sign that the day of the Lord is near. Christianscontinued in this belief, often seeing God's punishment in eventsthat threaten people.

Some recent examples of the tendency to think natural events arepunishments from God are clearly mistaken and misguided. Forexample, a small number of people have unwisely stated thatHIV/AIDS was God's judgement on gay men, which is false both as anaccount of its origin and its overwhelming global impact onheterosexual persons and children.

To wholly dismiss the idea that God can work through naturalevents, however, would be to set aside many great works Christianswish to give God thanks for, such as the warmth of the sun or theblessings of food to eat and water to drink. Like Joel, we may needto continue to be open to the ways in which God's hand is at workin the events of our world.

To Ponder

• What might Joel call the modern Church to repent of?

• How do you think God is involved in good and bad events in theworld?

• What would you say to those who are suffering from the outcomeof natural events?