1. Who is mentioned at the beginning of this book as being used by God?
Joel 1:1
2. During Joel’s ministry, the people were divided: ten tribes formed Israel in the north, while Judah and Benjamin stayed in the south. The Levites remained with Judah because Jerusalem was in their territory, and the priests supported this alignment, as it was where God had commanded true worship. What event led to this division among the people?
1 Kings 12:12-19
3. How did Israel reply to Rehoboam’s proclamation, and what measures did the king implement in response?
1 Kings 12:20-21
4. What did God say to prevent the looming war?
1 Kings 12:22-24
5. The rationale for providing background on the kingdoms is that Joel’s ministry occurred approximately one hundred years after the division. While it may be difficult to conceive, similar divisions can transpire within church organizations. Notably, one of the most well-known examples is the Protestant churches that emerged following Martin Luther’s separation from the Catholic Church. Nonetheless, analogous situations can arise within contemporary groups and institutions. If you were affiliated with a church organization that experienced a split due to differences in beliefs, organizational structure, or other reasons, how would you manage the situation, and what principles would guide your decision regarding your future involvement?
6. Who is the intended recipient of the message being broadcast?
Joel 1:2
7. What qualities does Peter say define an Elder?
1 Peter 1:1-5
8. Joel’s opening message is aimed at those in authority and those with power. Why do you think Joel approached them first?
9. What is the impact of good or bad leadership from elders? This can relate to the person’s age or the level of authority they hold within the organization.
10. How was the message going to be dispersed?
Joel 1:3
11. What does the Bible indicate regarding the transmission of information, and in what ways is this beneficial for the contemporary church?
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 Psalm 78:2-8
12. What event happened to the nation?
Joel 1:4
13. The event that occurred was not merely about millions of locusts devastating the land it also symbolized the repercussions of sin, illustrating how various issues, foreign invaders, and other calamities could afflict a people who choose to disobey God. Given this understanding, if a church or organization is hindered by a comparable challenge, a metaphorical plague of locusts impairs their ability to execute their ministry, what would be the implications for those individuals?
14. What measures can a church and its organization undertake to prepare their members to avoid incurring divine wrath?
JUST A THOUGHT
A significant fact about locusts is that they are solitary insects. Typically, when we observe them, it is in the hundreds of thousands or millions, collectively damaging a farmer’s field or reclaiming the land by consuming all available vegetation. Due to this common perception, it is generally assumed that locusts are social animals. However, they actually prefer solitude, except during mating and reproduction. Locusts closely resemble grasshoppers in appearance and structure. They differ slightly in flight patterns, and grasshoppers generally do not congregate in large numbers to consume everything in their path. In reality, locusts tend to exhibit such behavior only under specific weather conditions. Often, after a wet period, an arid season ensues, which prompts increased breeding and group formation. Subsequently, locusts undertake what can be described as an extraordinary feeding frenzy, devastate agricultural fields, and cause widespread destruction.
This insect’s consumption has nearly the same impact as natural weather phenomena, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis. While these are all weather-related calamities, locust swarms can produce comparable devastation on communities by devouring an excessive amount of crops. The issue, which was examined in the lesson, was not only a challenge faced by the people of Judah but was also exacerbated by four successive waves that brought chaos to the land. Clearly, this represented a significant problem that adversely affected the population. Nevertheless, these events occurred because God had withdrawn His protection and allowed a natural disaster to happen. It is not to be understood as the Lord deriving pleasure from His people’s suffering. Rather, it resulted from their outright disobedience and their turning to false idols and erroneous ideologies. The warning issued to ancient peoples thousands of years ago remains pertinent for the modern-day church as well.
Messages and letters written by the prophets were meant for the people of their time. This is an established fact. However, the majority of these writings were directed toward God’s people, intended to inform them of their shortcomings or to beseech them to alter their conduct. The chosen people of historical times were designated as the bearers of God’s light to the world. This same mission and ministry have now been entrusted to the contemporary church. Consequently, the content conveyed to them may also be relevant to us, provided we exercise caution.
Frequently, individuals in contemporary environments tend to perceive themselves as being morally superior. We hold the belief that we would not engage in the same behaviors or share the same mindset as the figures depicted in the Bible. While it would be desirable if this were the case, the reality is that it is not. Some of the issues experienced in that era can reemerge within the church or religious organizations if individuals are not vigilant and committed to adhering to the Lord.
Current believers tend to emulate celebrities, almost idolizing them. Some individuals adopt the mindset of following popular trends, which encompass social media, peer influence, or individuals advocating for a prideful and selfish lifestyle. Furthermore, the pursuit of wealth at all costs is infiltrating leadership, who should instead focus on fostering a strong relationship with God rather than enriching their own bank accounts at the expense of congregants. Such concerns become even more grave when religious leaders commit crimes against young people, engage in heinous acts, or promote mindsets that contradict the positive attributes of God. Additionally, there are members within the church who may endorse political rhetoric that conflicts with scripture or divine guidance.
Over time, there is a risk that the church may cease to resemble a House of Prayer and instead become an entity of power and authority, exerting influence for personal gain. When this occurs, we risk becoming analogous to the individuals depicted in the Bible, and the same protections once removed from them could also be withdrawn from us. Therefore, texts such as Joel are essential in guiding contemporary believers and churches to maintain adherence to God’s standards.
This segment of Joel marks the commencement, establishing the context to inform all parties of the transgressions committed, along with the repercussions of such misconduct. The discussion will extend to other topics however, reassurance is provided by the presence of a glimmer of hope. Just as Divine love was extended to Judah and Israel, there is a profound care and concern for the church. Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge the wrongdoings committed and contemplate the potential consequences of these actions. The objective is to learn not only as individuals but collectively, ensuring that we represent God in a manner that is commendable and pleasing to Him. This way, we may avoid experiencing the metaphorical annihilation of our lives by destructive forces such as locusts.
