Casting Lots for God's People Joel 3:3

As Joel the prophet continued to share how the LORD would “bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem”, he told how the LORD would “gather all nations, and bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat” for their mistreatment of Israel. Joel continued to describe the horrible manner in which other nations treated Israel as they “cast lots” for His people. We read:

And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot,

and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.

The verse begins, “And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot,...” Joel began with the phrase, “And they have cast” or “divided among themselves” “lots” which means “portions, retributions and pebbles used for systematically making decisions” “for my people” which refers to “God's nation, persons, compatriots, countrymen, kinsmen and kindred”; “and have given” or “put, set, bestow, grant, ascribe, ” “a boy” or “male child, offspring or youth” “for an harlot” which means “a cult prostitute”. The nations who were against Israel were so low in character they would trade “a boy” just for a time of pleasure with a prostitute.

The verse goes on to say, “...and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.” Joel continued, “and sold” which means “sell or merchandise” “a girl” or “damsel or marriageable young female” “for wine” which means “fermented, intoxicating and bubbling up fruit of the vine”, “that they might drink” or “imbibe to a drunken state”. Not only did these “nations” give “boys” for “harlots”, they also sold “girls” just to have a drunken spree.

When we consider these words of Joel, we can hardly imagine such cruelty to anyone. However, this is the manner the people of Judah endured. We must remember, God was watching, and now He was taking action against them. For those who fight against the people of God, take another look at these “nations'” behavior and beware. For those who have rejected God's Son Jesus Christ, even more let this be “woe” be unto thee.

Next time Joel shares how God will “return” a “recompense”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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