You Will Know

You will know that I am among my people Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. Never again will my people be disgraced.

Joel 2:27

MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT history, the people of Israel experienced disgrace. Even before it became a nation, the three patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—committed sin at various times, causing shame. After Joseph saved his family from the famine, the Hebrews ended up in Egypt in slavery for four centuries. During the years of the judges, the Israelites went from top to bottom many times, largely because of failing to obey God and sinning repeatedly. Under its first kings, there was so much turmoil and rebellion that Israel split into two nations; then both of those nations, Israel and Judah, were carried off into slavery at different times because God had to discipline them for their repeated and stubborn behavior.

With the coming of Jesus, Israel had its best opportunity yet for redemption, hope, and glory. However, most of the people failed to recognize him, and in less than fifty years the Israelites would again be scattered throughout the world, rejected, hated, and despised.

But God, in spite of knowing what his people would do, offered them hope in this passage in Joel. He promised Israel that one day the world would see God’s power revealed in them.

Even though we Christians, too, continually turn away from God, he promises that when we again return to him to believe and trust, we will find him compassionate, merciful, and welcoming.