“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.” Joel 2:23
In this verse, by sending badly needed rainfall instead of a locust invasion, the Lord powerfully vindicates those who placed their faith in His goodness.
The former rain softened the soil for planting winter wheat. The latter rain fell in the spring, causing the grain to swell and ensuring a good harvest. If the rains failed, the crops would not grow. The Judean agriculture was completely dependent on this seasonal rain pattern. When the spring and fall rains came in sufficient amounts, the people received a powerful reminder of God’s trustworthiness.
Along with dire predictions about a locust plague and famine, the Prophet Joel assures the people that the Lord will not abandon them or allow them to be mocked by their pagan neighbors. But the Lord will also not tolerate rebellion, and He fully expects us to sincerely repent of our sins. Nevertheless, when we return to the Lord, He is faithful and just and forgives us of all our unrighteousness.
God’s blessings on your day…