10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? 12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil (Joel 2:10-13).
The prophet Joel reminds us about the power of God. Additionally, Joel paints a picture of God’s wrath and judgment that we should utterly desire to avoid-in fact we cannot stand against. God’s wrath and judgment are fearsome things. But Joel also reminds us that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. How are these things compatible with a God of judgment and wrath. The answer is simpler than it might appear. God’s wrath and judgment are only brought about in response to Man’s own actions. Wrath and judgment are consequences of and for rebellion against God. And these consequences occur in the presence of an alternative (consequences can be avoided in this case). God promises that all who call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. The possibility of salvation is the manifestation of God’s grace, mercy, and great kindness.
The prophet Joel reminds us about the power of God. Additionally, Joel paints a picture of God’s wrath and judgment that we should utterly desire to avoid-in fact we cannot stand against. God’s wrath and judgment are fearsome things. But Joel also reminds us that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. How are these things compatible with a God of judgment and wrath. The answer is simpler than it might appear. God’s wrath and judgment are only brought about in response to Man’s own actions. Wrath and judgment are consequences of and for rebellion against God. And these consequences occur in the presence of an alternative (consequences can be avoided in this case). God promises that all who call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. The possibility of salvation is the manifestation of God’s grace, mercy, and great kindness.
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