The lamb wins

Declare a holy fast (Joel 2:15)
This feels like an attempt to manipulate God into answering their prayer. Make yourself miserable. There's power in numbers. Appeal to his vanity. It almost looks like an attempt at political lobbying. First show the need. Second gather a grass roots movement. Then, if all else fails, try a dirty tactics campaign. "Hey God, if you don't get on and do something people are going to jeer at us saying, 'Where is your God?' You'll be like those gods of Elijah's opponents, who couldn't even get off the toilet to help"
I have to admit that sometimes it feels like this with God. He seems to be deaf to our cries. We follow his call, we act as he tells us and, when we wait for the blessing, nothing comes. We see an obvious need, we sense that God has his hand on it, we pray in faith and nothing happens. Our children give up their faith, our churches shrink, our loved ones lie sick or dying. 'Where are you God? Have you fallen asleep?'
So it is not surprising that there is a note of uncertainty in Joel's response to God's call for his people to return, 'Who knows but that he may turn and have pity'. The kind of God Joel seems acquainted with is fickle and needs persuading. No wonder he calls on the people to fast.
But this is not the kind of God of whom he speaks. This God, the one we worship, is not fickle, is not asleep, does not need persuasion. This God is 'gracious and compassionate, abounding in love'. Our God is not slumbering but waiting, waiting on his people to bless them, to love them, to draw close to them.
So what can we say when it seems to be so different? When our loved ones die despite our prayers, when all our plans come to nothing despite our God-given hopes, when our country is laid desolate and our dreams are dried up. What do we say when God is silent?
My heart always turns to Habbakuk,
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
Habbakuk did not see the fruits of his prayers, or the promised blessings. He had to see with the eyes of faith what was to come. Joel is allowed a clearer vision, one of God's future blessing, the sunshine after the storm. I trust that for many of us we will walk with Joel, seeing God's purpose and blessing. For some though the storm of this virus will seem like the end. They will be left like Habbakuk without that greater vision. And yet, God promises eternity to his children, indeed has given it already, so death is not the end but the beginning, not the victory of a virus, but the final and greatest healing. In Christ we are all blessed with sight of the final triumph of God. In this present time we may find failure and loss, but in Christ we know that the victory has been won.

Driving into a sunrise near Oxford

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