A Great Reversal
3/12/26 Bible Thought (Joel 3)
Main Idea: The Day of the Lord brings blessing for God’s people.
A Look at the Text:
Our text yesterday climaxed with hope. God received His wayward people and turned their coming destruction. With this background in mind, we see that Joel’s prophecy ends with hope for a future reversal.
Up to this point, God’s people were the tail, not the head. They were subjected to terrors from other nations (Joel 3:1-6). To this, God was going to act. He was going to reverse the fortunes of His people and bring judgment upon the nations in the valley of judgment.
Yet to His people, He would bring blessing. He would dwell amongst them (Joel 3:17). He would cause wine and milk to flow from the mountains and the streambeds to be full once again (Joel 3:18-19). While Egypt and Edom faced desolation, Judah would be inhabited for all generations (Joel 3:20). A great reversal was on the horizon.
Bringing it Home:
Movies constantly reveal this desire that human beings have for a happy ending. A story that ends sadly keeps people longing for a sequel.
However, many people find that happy endings seem to only happen in the movies. Life feels backwards. Hardships come. Trials endure and don’t leave. Suffering can abound.
To this, the Scripture showcases a great day of reversal that is coming for God’s people. The Israelites went through innumerable hardships in the past, but blessing was the end of the story.
Today, the believer in Jesus Christ has been grafted into the people of God (Rom. 11:17-24) and is made an heir of Abraham by faith (Gal. 3:14, 29).
To this, we are reminded that even if prosperity eludes us down here, there is a final day of blessing coming. “The Day of the Lord” might bring about judgment and horror upon those who reject Him, but for His people, the day of judgment is also the day of salvation.
The end of the story for all who are in Christ, both Jew and Gentile, is eternal blessedness and a reversal of fortunes.
The hardships of this life, according to the apostle Paul, are a “light momentary affliction” yet they prepare for us, “an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17).
What is presently light will one day be heavy. What is momentary will one day be eternal. What is affliction will one day be glory. It is in that day and the God who brings it to pass that we hope, especially when things are tough in the present.
Challenge:
Do I faithfully look to the future when enduring hardships in the present?
Let us never forget that there is a happily ever after that is one day coming. We will eternally dwell with our God (Rev. 21:3) who is not only our Creator, but who is likewise our Redeemer.