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Day 249, or September 6. Be thankful in good times. Our thoughts today are from Joel chapter

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2 verse 13. REND YOUR HEART AND NOT YOUR GARMENTS. RETURN TO THE LORD YOUR GOD, FOR HE IS GRACIOUS

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AND COMPASSIONATE, SLOW TO ANGER AND ABOUNDING IN LOVE, AND HE RELENTS FROM SENDING CALAMITY.

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Now the big picture surrounding this verse. This prophet has such a wonderful name. It

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literally means Yahweh is God, or as a Jewish speaker once said, His name is Yahweh, and

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His job is God. His dates are uncertain, but he was probably around during the ministry

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of Elisha. However, they are unlikely to have met as Joel was in the south whilst Elisha

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was in the north. Joel uses a natural calamity to make a godly point. Centuries later Jesus

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would use nature and everyday experiences to make godly points too. He emphasized that

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just as a plague of locusts can cause havoc and despair, so will the day of the Lord when

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it comes, but even more so. This was an early warning of judgment to come, but it would

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be more than two hundred years before Nebuchadnezzar would invade and the exile begin. Now that's

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plenty of warning from our loving Father God, isn't it?

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Joel uses a previous catastrophe of locust infestation to warn of a future calamity.

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Interestingly, God has used locusts previously when the eighth plague hit Egypt before the

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Israelites were released. Ironically, Moses declared them kosher and suitable to eat in

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Leviticus chapter 11.

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And now our action step for today. Joel probably preached during the reign of Joash, who was

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a godly king of Judah, as were the next three kings. Things were running relatively smoothly

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at the time, so they had no real need of God, or so they thought. It's a natural thing for

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mankind to turn to their Creator in times of trouble. That's why the most unexpected

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people sometimes pray. However, don't wait until life begins to get difficult before

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trusting in God. Don't use Him as an emergency service. Thank Him today for the things that

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are going well for you. Count your blessings.