Joel 2:23-24 (NIVUK)
23 Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. 24 The threshing-floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
Joel brings a warning to the people of Judah, a warning of their defeat and exile because of their straying from God’s ways. At the same time, however, he brings an important message, that God’s punishment will not last, and does not mean that God has fallen out of love with them. Instead, it also promises that God will rescue and restore them. In these verses he describes this in terms of enjoying the harvest once again, and abundant harvest that fills the store-rooms and produces more wine and oil than they can handle! He also promises lots of rain – don’t forget, whilst we may see that as a negative, in a hot dry land such as Israel, rain is welcome and necessary.
Thank you for the harvest you give us Father, even when we let you down. Thank you that your love and provision is larger than our inconsistency and failures.
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