A Life in Exile

The second chapter of Joel is one of my favorites, as God’s love for his people is revealed through the words of the prophet. It is in this chapter, we find phrases like: “Rend your hearts, not your garments. Return to the Lord your God” (v.13 NIV) and “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten” (v.25 NIV). It is in this same chapter of conviction and comfort that we find our passage for today’s lesson from the Old Testament.

After this I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions. I will even pour out my Spirit on the male and female slaves in those days. I will display wonders in the heavens and on the earth: blood, fire, and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for there will be an escape for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the Lord promised, among the survivors the Lord calls. (Joel 2:28-32 CSB)

The Day the Spirit Came

Hundreds of years later, the former fisherman and now Apostle Peter would refer to this same passage. Why? Because it had come to pass. Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, his followers were gathered together in the same place. It was the Feast of Weeks, and this was the day of Pentecost. At the same moment, Luke tells us that a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came and filled the whole house. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues.

When the crowds of gathered Jews from the nations heard the noise, they rushed toward the place. The followers of Jesus were now outside, speaking to the people in the native language of each person. They didn’t know what it meant, “but some sneered and said, ‘They’re drunk on new wine.’” (Acts 2:13)

Not wanting anyone to be confused about what had just occurred, Peter stood up and laid it all out before them. What did he say?

This is a fulfillment of prophecy.

That’s right. He addressed their questions and sneers with a quote from their own prophet Joel. He quoted the passage I shared from Joel and added that all this would take place in the last days. When did the last days begin? With the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. From the time he rose and left this earth, we are in the last days awaiting his return.

There is a lot of stuff that’s going to happen before he comes back, and if anyone living in the year of this post, 2024, doubt it, we are confident of the truth of these words. Have we seen blood in the last days? Yes. Have we seen fire in the last days? Yes. Have we seen columns of smoke in these last days? Yes.

If you’re living in the Middle East today or watching current events on your devices or TVs, then you know about blood, fire, and smoke. If you’ve lived through the dramatic devastation after Hurricane Helene (and I fear, at this writing of Hurricane Milton), you know about blood, fire, and smoke.

These are only two of many world events and disasters that are happening in our day. Have they happened before? Yes. Will they happen again? Yes. Why? Because the last days will be full of such signs. How long have we been in the last days? Over two thousand years now, and we are told they will only get worse as The Day approaches.

What is our response?

Joel made it clear and so did Peter. Joel said it this way: “Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32a). Peter gives more specifics. After he told them about how God had sent his Son, Jesus, to die, be resurrected from the dead, and made Lord and Christ, the people were “pierced to the heart” and asked him and the other disciples what they needed to do. So, as with Joel, Peter responds like this:

“Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)

There was no hesitation on the part of the crowd that day. They had seen the power of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and heard the gospel message clearly. About three thousand came to faith in that one day and were baptized as a sign of their belief in Jesus.

What about you? Have you been moved to rend your heart over the evil that not only seems to prevail in our world today but in your life? Have you asked God for forgiveness, trusted in Christ as Savior, and seen him restore the years the locusts of selfishness, pride, and sin have eaten in your life? Have you been filled with his Spirit and with him found peace that passes all understanding as the world falls apart around you?

God’s deliverance is coming, because the Deliverer is coming soon. Make sure you’re among the survivors by calling on the name of the Lord today.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Learning from the Past post, click HERE, or start the series from the BEGINNING.