The day of the Lord is near, and it will come like destruction from the Almighty.
Joel 1:15
G od isn’t happy when his people sin. And when things get really bad, God does something about it. In the Old Testament God used things like plagues, invasion, and destruction to get his people to wake up and look up. The prophet Joel wrote to the people of Israel about all the miserable things that had been happening to them and would keep happening to them because of their sin. But he wrote not to condemn them but to show them a way out of their misery. The way out he wanted them to see was simple, and it applies to us even today: it is repentance, prayer, and fasting. God wouldn’t hold anything against them if they would just be willing to stop what they were doing, turn around, and be serious about turning back to him.
God wanted his people to make pleasing him more important than pleasing themselves and even their appetites. God didn’t want the attacks on Israel to be looked at like haphazard events, having nothing to do with their choices or their sin. He wants his people to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that nothing happens outside of God’s control. And when he lets destruction come on his people, it’s a call for them to sit up and listen. When hard times come your way, don’t worry over them, but look to God and find out how he wants you to react to them. Is he trying to get your attention? Is he letting all this stuff happen in order to purify you or strengthen you? Not all destruction comes from your sin; a lot of it is because of the sin of other people, but that doesn’t change your responsibility to ask, “Where is my sin and how can I turn around and get things right?” God uses everything in your life for your good when you are willing to trust him and to turn your life over to him.