Joel

Gotta love the short books.

I was curious about Joel. I had a (much older) cousin named Joel. He was my mom’s oldest sister’s son. His daughter was my ace, which shows you the age difference. Anyway, I digress… Was Joel named after this book of the Bible? I will never know as all the players are long gone. Maybe…

So, Joel.

The word of the Lord came to Joel. (No details as to how; I suspect a dream.) He reviewed the horrors they lived through—locust upon locust upon locust, an army of locusts—destroying everything; followed by fires, famine and drought. Then God asks the people to lament and return to him with all their heart. They must, as God takes pity on them and sends the locust away, restores the land, brings back gentle showers, and provides bountiful crops.

God doesn’t stop there. He also “pays back” the nations who mistreated his people. He will do to them what they did to his people. He instructs the people to go to war against those who mistreated them and to sell off the captives. (Such a violent time.)

It ends with God, once again, blessing his people.

Hosea

Hosea was told by God to marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her. He did. They named the children terrible names because God told them to (Jazreel—after a massacre, Lo-Ruhamah which means not loved, and Lo-Ammi which means not my people). Something happened because a few verses later Hosea buys his wife back from another man and tells her she must be faithful to him forevermore and he will be faithful to her.

The marriage of Hosea and Gomer appears to be a metaphor describing God’s relationship with Israel. 

He loves his people but they turn their backs on His love. The people betray God by worshiping other gods, by rebelling against God. And yet, as hurtful these acts must be, as much as they anger, at the end God is still willing to take back his people and show them love.

Thank goodness for grace and mercy.

Daniel

I liked Daniel.

First, I knew some of the stories. Daniel surviving being thrown into the lion’s den, for one. The three believers (Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego) who refused to worship the king’s statue and walked out unharmed after being thrown into the fire as punishment, all because of their belief that God would protect them. Daniel interpreting the king’s dreams (which both protected and elevated his status and the status of the other three believers).

The first half was Daniel’s story of being held captive, told in chronological order.

Then the book starts to jump around throughout Daniel’s life. At first I couldn’t figure out why, but then I realized it started as a history so we could understand the context of Daniel’s dreams, the interpretations and prophecies, along with visits from Gabriel, who I assume was an angel. There is foretelling, if I am interpreting it correctly, of Jesus and the end of times.

A most interesting book.

Ezekiel

 Another long book of the Bible finished.

What can I say about Ezekiel?  He was another prophet.  He, also, told of the destruction of the people of Israel.  And then, he got to tell of Israel's potential redemption.  They survived God's anger and punishment and now He was going to bring them back...let them start over...as one great nation.  They would no longer be divided into Judah and Israel.

Ezekiel is visited by a "man" who spends a lot of time giving him dimensions and descriptions of a new temple and a new city.  God gives him a list of very particular rules for how and when the temple is to be used (just like God told Moses and Aaron long, long ago).  God details how the land is to be divided among the tribes of Israel...just like before.  God is giving them a second chance.

Will the people follow God's instructions?  Or will they fail, once again?  It seems like we, as a people, tend to fail over and over.  But, God consistently gives us new chances to redeem ourselves...to start over...to be forgiven.

Here's to forgiveness.