Joel 2:25-26—”I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.”
Believers are appalled at where the world is heading in every area: education, entertainment, politics, etc. Each takes its path based on the beliefs/values of the decision makers. Individually, we are not in a better position on our righteousness scale. We replay our sins, in our weaker areas, often.
In the Bible, in Joel, sins were the downfall of the people. God sent an army of locusts that ate all the food and destroyed their vines. If they would only return to God with all their heart, with fasts and repentance for sins. If they would intercede: “Have mercy, God, on your people!” Our God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Whoever calls, ‘Help, God!’ gets help. This most patient God is always ready to cancel catastrophe. When God relents, a blessing follows. Then you will know our God, and that there is no other.
Only God can stop calamities and restore to you the years eaten by your calamities, curses, downfalls. Restore means to bring back to whole. Being a Father, God chides or punishes us if we continually disobey or rebel. However, the same Father forgives, when we go to Him, and then provides in plenty until we are satisfied. When we remember to praise this same Father, Creator, Protector, Provider, we will never be put to shame. The same way God promised the people through Joel.
People of God must warn others about the fatal consequences of sin and reveal heaven’s wrath against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. Meanwhile, we must build our interest in Christ and wean ourselves from objects which can turn into idols. If we pray for repentance for ourselves and for our world, God will relent. God’s promises are real answers to our prayers of faith.
Try this: Pray in faith to intercede for our world and our nation.
