stephen R Harrison

The book of Joel in the Bible is about Judah’s experience with a severe locust plague. It is so brutal that Joel 1:4 tells us, “What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten. What the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten. What the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten”. This swarm of locusts caused famine and even death. God’s response through the prophet Joel was for the people of Judah to fast (Joel 1:14; 2:12). God desired to help His people in their time of trouble, but not before teaching them a lesson. God reminded the people of Judah that while this locust swarm was terrible, the Day of the Lord will be worse for those who do not turn to Him in repentance. God has a way of putting things into eternal perspective. God is not uncaring in our troubles. He desired to help His people by driving the locust out of the land, feeding them, and repaying them for what the locust had eaten (Joel 2:14-27). But more than helping them physically, He wanted their hearts – a spiritual renewal and revival.

Joel 2:12-13 says, “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” He desired to help them long term – eternally. Why would he want them to fast in the middle of devastation – especially when they are already hungry? Going without food is different than fasting. Hunger is when food is absent or taken away. Fasting intentionally chooses not to eat and places one’s dependence on God. God could have removed the locust, fed them, and they still would have been far away from Him. Fasting was necessary to move their hearts back to Him. He wanted their bellies full of food, but more importantly, He wanted their hearts full of Him. God told the people He would not only remove the locust and even restore their nation (Joel 3) but do a greater thing – pour out His Spirit and save them (Joel 2:28-32). “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Joel 2:32).

God wants your heart. The purpose of fasting is to return your heart to the Lord. Saying no to more food in your bellies (fasting) and yes to more of God in your heart (prayer and worship) will always produce a great harvest. The grand result is He will dwell with you (Joel 3:21). Returning your heart to the Lord requires some action step like fasting, prayer, worship, repentance, and confession. Our hearts can be tempted to continually stray from the Lord toward sin, worldly desires, and fleshly cravings. God desires to draw us back to Him because He loves us. Jesus said if He be lifted up, He would draw all men to Himself (John 12:32). Jesus will draw near to us, but we can also draw near to Him. James 4:8 says we do this by cleansing our hands, since we are sinners, and purifying our hearts, since we are double-minded. Jesus, draw us to you. Convict us of sin, lead us to repentance, and purify our hearts.