In Joel Chapter 2:12-17, the minor prophet calls on the people to mourn and repent and in verses 18-27 God promised restoration. Verse 18 says, “Then the LORD became jealous for His land and had pity on his people.” God responded to their repentance with mercy, something we’re used to seeing throughout the Bible. He’s a very loving and merciful God. But then God told them something that can often get overlooked. In verse 25 God said, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…”
Now, don’t start shouting yet because it gets even better. Not only did God guarantee His people’s restoration but check out what He said in Joel 2:28, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.”
You can’t tell me we don’t serve a good-good Father!God not only promised to deliver His people from the plague and famine, but to give to them all that they would have had during that time and oh btw, He also promised to pour out His spirit because they chose to come back to the Lord. Somebody say it with me, “The Lord is good and His mercy endures forever and His faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 100:5).
My beloved brothers and sisters, God wants us all to bring our sin and shame to Him to redeem and restore. He will turn our past guilt into weapons for His glory, and like this passage from Joel, the time we’ve lost to shame, guilt, and darkness will be restored to us and He will pour out His Spirit on us because God is unwaveringly faithful to restore what was lost.
4GIVEN 