The definition of a Mosaic covenant prophet is a person who spoke for God. In order to do so, he or she had to listen to God. Joel did.
And Joel the writer was quite descriptive, with vivid imagery. We were shown God’s righteous judgment through his creative metaphors.
God is just.
God is merciful.
The last passage of this book displays the beautiful restoration carried out by God. Joel’s keen writing gives descriptive phrases which create an emotional picture of prosperity:
“…hills will flow with milk;
all the ravines of Judah will run with water” (3:18).
How interesting that the description by Joel of that restoration includes these two staples of life. Water and milk were scarce after the locust invasion. For the original readers of this book, the Hebrew people in the midst of a famine, this promise of an abundance of water and milk would have made a big impression.
This restoration is a result of God’s faithfulness.
At the base of Mount Sinai, in the 1400’s B.C., a covenant was established between God and the Hebrew people, with Moses as the mediator. That covenant was grounded in God’s promise that if the Israelites obeyed His commandments, they would have a long life and prosperity in the land He was going to give them.
In the history of the Israelites which followed, the Hebrew people often failed to obey the commandments of God, which was their duty under the covenant. Disaster always resulted. Such was the case in the time of Joel. And such will be the case in the ‘end times.’ Yet judgment is not the end of the story for Israel.
When shifting to talking about restoration after the disastrous locust invasion, Joel stated God is “abounding in love” (2:13). And in love, God stated at the start of this chapter: “In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem…” (Joel 3:1).
God is going to rescue the Jewish people from the attack of wicked warriors from all nations. And God is going to secure the land of Judah and Jerusalem for the Hebrews forever more.
“…never again will foreigners invade her” (Joel 3:17).
Tragedies and triumphs have both been a part of the Israelite’s history, yet because of God’s faithfulness, the end result will be final restoration for Israel.
This special book by Joel ends with the subject of a pardon being given to the Jewish people.
Here at the conclusion of this intense study, I will refrain from carefully examining the nature of the word “pardon.” I will say the term “pardon” often has the definition of being an act of releasing someone from the punishment which was due to them, without any redeeming payment.
Throughout the centuries, the Hebrew people have encountered tragic suffering. Though being in a blessed position as people who were a part of the Mosaic covenant with God, the Hebrew people have also been a people who were in an extremely vulnerable position by being in the Mosaic covenant. Thus this seems to be a unique pardon by our God at the close of the history of Israel in the fallen world in the ‘end times.’
Yet personal redemption is still needed by every individual before our just God. After the epic rescue on the Mount of Olives, Jesus will give the Israelites a grand opportunity to turn to Himself, the true Messiah.
Even though Joel ends his book on the restoration of Israel, the ultimate “day of the LORD” will be after this. ‘Judgment Day’ will involve permanent judgment and permanent mercy from our Holy God.
Salvation was the pinnacle message of the book of Joel in 2:28-32. And though Joel did not elaborate on the “day of the LORD” which will be the final judgment as revealed in the book of Revelation, Joel did give the key point: “And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved…” (2:32).
This salvation is possible because of all that Jesus did, which includes:
Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Covenant.
Jesus died as the substitute for all human beings, taking upon Himself the judgment and punishment we deserved, when He died on the cross at Golgotha.
And now:
Jesus offers the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus offers the Jewish people a New Covenant.
Jesus offers anyone the New Covenant.
Over 800 years later, an apostle of Jesus named Paul wrote:
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God, for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile” (Romans 1:16).
Jesus made atonement for all sins on the cross.
Any person who believes in Jesus has eternal life.
To truly believe in Jesus is to receive Jesus into your heart.
God has been faithful to the Hebrew people all along. And our loving God offers forgiveness to us all.
Hunter Irvine
