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Greetings listeners.

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Today we're exploring the book of Joel, a short but powerful prophetic message about devastation, repentance and the incredible promise of God's restoration. Imagine waking up to find your entire food supply gone, not because of war or theft, but because of an unstoppable swarming plague of locusts. That was the scene in Joel's time and it became the backdrop for his urgent message to the people of Judah. Well, welcome everyone. I'm your host, Jacqui Adewole, and this is the Bible Basics Podcast, where, weekly, we break down the basics of the Bible into understandable, bite-sized chunks. Whether you're new to reading scripture or just want a refresher, you're in the right place. Today we're exploring the book of Joel, a prophecy of devastation, repentance and restoration. We'll look at its historical setting, the urgent call to turn back to God and the incredible promises of renewal that still speak to us today. Joel's prophecy takes place in Judah, likely in Jerusalem, but the exact time period isn't certain. Unlike other prophets, joel doesn't mention specific kings or historical events. Scholars estimate that he wrote somewhere between the 9th and 5th centuries BC, but strong evidence points to the 9th century, possibly during the reign of King Joash, which would have been between 835 and 796 BC. If that's the case, Joel would be one of the earliest prophetic books in the Bible. What we do know for sure is that Judah had just endured a devastating locust plague, and in an agricultural society this wasn't just inconvenient, it was catastrophic Crops were wiped out, food was scarce and the economy was in ruins. But Joel saw something deeper. This wasn't just a natural disaster, it was a divine warning. So who was Joel? Well, joel was a prophet, the son of Pethewel, but beyond that, we don't have many personal details about him. His father isn't even mentioned anywhere else in scripture tales about him. His father isn't even mentioned anywhere else in scripture. His name means Yahweh is God, which fits perfectly with his message. His audience was the people of Judah, but his message reached far beyond them. Joel himself says it's for a future generation. You can read in chapter 1, verse 3, quote tell it to your children and let your children tell it to their children and their children to the next generation. Unquote. This shows that the lessons from the locust plague and the call to repentance are meant to be remembered and applied long after Joel's day.

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Unlike some prophets who focus on calling out specific sins, joel's approach is broader. He points to the disaster at hand and urges everyone to turn back to God. And this disaster wasn't random. It was exactly the kind of warning God had given Israel centuries earlier In the book of Deuteronomy. Long before Joel's time, god made a covenant or a sacred agreement with Israel. He told them if they followed him, they would experience blessings, but if they turned away, their land would suffer. One of the specific warnings was about locusts Quote you will have much seed in the field, but you will harvest little, because locusts will devour it. Unquote. And that's in Deuteronomy, chapter 28, verse 38. Now, in Joel's time, that warning had become a reality. The people had strayed from God and the land was facing the very consequences he promised. I encourage you to read Deuteronomy 28 to get a lot more information about that. But here's the good news God's covenant didn't just include judgment, it also included a way back. If the people turned back to him and repented, god promised to restore them. That same thing runs through Joel's prophecy A call to repent, followed by the promise of restoration. And we see that in Deuteronomy, chapter 30, verse 1 through 3.

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Now let's talk a little more about the book of Joel. It's just three chapters long, making it one of the shortest books in the Bible, but that's not unusual for the minor prophets. Now, when we say minor prophets, it doesn't mean these books are less important, it just refers to their length. Unlike the major prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah or Ezekiel, whose writings are much longer, the minor prophets deliver concise, powerful messages that still carry immense weight. Joel may be short, but his message is profound. Now let's dig into his main message.

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Joel begins with a horrifying disaster, a locust plague so severe that it wipes out every crop in the land, and we see that in chapter 1, verses 7 through 20. He describes wave after wave of locusts. In chapter 1, verse 4, he describes what the great locusts have left. The young locusts have eaten what the great locusts have left. The young locusts have eaten what the young locusts have left, other locusts have eaten Unquote. This isn't just poetic imagery. It's a real event that devastated the economy, the food supply and even worship in Judah. The economy, the food supply and even worship in Judah. Without grain or wine they couldn't even bring offerings to God in the temple, and we see that in chapter 1, verse 9. But Joel isn't just describing a natural disaster. He presents it as a sign of something greater.

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The locust plague is a warning foreshadowing an even more severe judgment to come the day of the Lord. This one phrase echoes throughout Joel's prophecy, as well as other places in the Old and New Testaments the day of the Lord. This phrase appears 18 times across eight Old Testament books. It doesn't refer to just one event in history, but to any time when God steps in to judge evil, call his people to repentance and bring restoration. It's a time of severe judgment on his people and nations that have rebelled against him, but it's also a time of future blessings on the people and nations who have trusted in him. In Joel's day, the locust plague was a day of the Lord moment, a wake-up call to turn back to God. But Joel makes it clear there's a greater day of the Lord coming, one that will impact not just Judah but the whole world, and that ultimate day of the Lord is still to come. When Jesus returns.

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Quote Blow the trumpet in Zion, sound the alarm on my holy hill, let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand. A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, like a dawn spreading across the mountains. A large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times, nor ever will be in ages to come. That's chapter 2, verse 1 through 2.

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So what is it that Joel wants his readers to understand? His message is both a warning and a promise. He lays it out in three key parts First, wake up and repent, then God will restore and finally, a future hope. Let's take a closer look. Let's look at main message one wake up and repent.

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As I've said, joel didn't see the locust plague as just a natural disaster. He saw it as a judgment from God. This invasion was only the beginning, a preview of something far worse. It could mean an enemy attack from the north, but ultimately it points to the final day of judgment. One thing is clear Joel is sounding the alarm that great and terrible day is coming soon. God is speaking personally, directly and urgently.

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Twice Joel calls the people to turn back to him before it's too late. The first call comes after the locust plague has devastated the land. Since the temple, sacrifices have stopped due to the famine, joel calls the priests and elders to take the lead in mourning and fasting, saying Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn Wail you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God, for the grain offerings and the drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. 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. That's chapter 1, verses 13 and 14.

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The second call comes before the prophecy of a future coming day of the Lord. Unlike the first call, which was focused on the leaders, this one is for everyone. God calls them to not just show outward signs of grief but to have genuine heart transformation. He cries out, quote Even now declares the Lord return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Render your heart and not your garments. 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. Who knows he may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing. Grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord, your God. That's chapter 2, verses 12 through 14.

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This is the heart of Joel's message Warnings of God's judgment, for sin always leaves room for repentance, even in discipline. God's grace and mercy are great. So the second main message is God will restore. So Joel's message isn't just to wake up and repent, it's also about restoration. After calling the people to repentance, joel shifts, dramatically speaking as if their prayers had already been answered. In chapter 2, verse 18, we see quote then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. Unquote. So though the book doesn't describe Judah's response to the prophet's messages in detail, the tone of chapter 2, verse 18 suggested they listened, they repented and God, true to his character, responded with compassion and restoration.

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Joel's message shows us what happens when people take God seriously. He meets them with mercy. As a result of the people's repentance, God promised to restore everything that was lost. The armies of destruction would be driven away. That's chapter 2, verse 20. The land would be fruitful again. That's chapter 2, verse 22. And the people would never be put to shame again. That's chapter 2, verse 26. This shows God's heart. He isn't just the God of judgment, he is a God of restoration. And that brings us to the third main message of future hope.

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Joel's prophecy goes even further. Physical restoration is just the beginning. God has a greater promise in store. He won't just renew the land, he will pour out His Spirit on His people. Quote I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. That's chapter 2, verse 28. If this sounds familiar, it's because this prophecy is directly quoted in the New Testament by Peter in Acts 2. On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples, peter stands up and declares Peter stands up and declares quote this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel In the last days. God says I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. Unquote. The old men will dream dreams. Unquote. Heeder saw the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as the beginning of Joel's prophecy coming true. This marked a new era where God's spirit would dwell in believers, just as Joel had foretold. But this prophecy also points ahead to something even greater the final day of the Lord, when God will fully and finally bring his plan to completion. Joel ends with the kingdom blessings upon the remnant of faithful Judah. Quote Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations. That's in the last, chapter 3, verse 20. So let's summarize Besides prophesying of the great outpouring of God's Spirit.

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The book of Joel is especially concerned with the great themes of the biblical story God's judgment on human sin, the need for repentance and, by the merciful grace of God, he restores and gives us hope. It reminds us of these points. Judgment and hardship can be a wake-up call. Sometimes difficulties are meant to turn us away from sin and bring us back to God when we're His. God responds to repentance with restoration, whether we're repenting from big things or little things. When we turn back, god responds with mercy and renewal. And God offers those who are his hope.

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As we consider the state of the world today and its prospects for the future, hold on to God's promises of hope. Quote Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Unquote. That's chapter 2, verse 32. And God wants us to pass a legacy of faith to the next generation. And ultimately, god's plan is centered on Jesus. Joel's prophecy points us to him, the one who will one day return to establish his kingdom fully. The book of Joel may be short, but its impact is huge. It reminds us that even in judgment, God's heart is for restoration and that restoration finds its fulfillment in Jesus. Next time we'll explore another powerful prophetic book. So stay tuned. Until then, keep reading, keep seeking and keep growing in your faith so that we spread God's word further. Please share, like, follow, comment and subscribe.