The Writings of Joel

Have you ever had a nightmare that seemed so real that even when you woke up you thought it could be true? What if you had a vision where you understood the picture of what you were seeing but weren’t fully sure of the message that picture was communicating?

Joel has what seems to be a nightmare.  But it doesn’t come to him while he is sleeping.  It’s a vision that God gives to Joel.  It’s a vision of locusts.  Locusts were well known during the time of Joel.  Joel understands the picture itself.  He just isn’t fully aware of the message of the picture.

The picture of locusts devouring everything in its path and people with no means to stop the plague would be well known to Joel and others during his time.  The loss of the entire crop would devastate the people for a long time to come.  Not only would people not have food there would be no grain to offer to God as a sacrifice.  Against this picture of complete devastation God promises to bring rain to the people and restore their lives. 

The locust picture is a prophetic way of speaking both of the present and the future.  Nations would conquer the Jewish people throughout the centuries.  The locust plague is a picture of God’s judgment.  But Joel also speaks of the day of the Eternal One when God will bring restoration.

Joel’s message is a difficult message for the present yet a message of great hope for the future.  It is a message often given by the prophets. Joel’s message is so strong that the New Testament church would quote Joel when establishing itself as the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy.  Read Joel, for the past with the Jews, for the present with the church and for the future with the final establishment of Christ’s Kingdom.