The Beasts Do Not have to Be Afraid Joel 2:22

As Joel the prophet continued to encourage the people of Judah, he told them not to “fear” and to “be glad and rejoice” because “the LORD will do great things”. In chapter two and verse twenty-two Joel continued his prophecy as the instructed “the beasts of the field” not to be “afraid” as well where we read:

Be not afraid, you beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring,

for the tree bears her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

The verse begins, “Be not afraid, you beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring,...” Joel begins, “Be not afraid” which means “fear, revere, stand in awe, honor and respect”, “you beasts” or “cattle, animal, livestock and wild beasts” “of the field” which refers to “the land, cultivated field and home of wild beasts”: “for the pastures” or “abodes, habitations and meadows” “of the wilderness” which means “uninhabited large tracts of land” “do spring” or “sprout, shoot, grow green and shoot forth”. When the LORD comes on the scene, even the animals will benefit because their feeding places will bring forth abundance.

The verse goes on to say, “... for the tree bears her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.” Joel continued, “for the tree” or “wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick and gallows” “bears” or “lifts up, carries, takes, sustains, and endures” “her fruit” which refers to “produce, offspring and progeny”, “the fig tree” or “the Indian fig” “and the vine” which means “the vine tree especially the grape” “do yield” or “put forth, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate and deliver up” “their strength” which refers to “might, efficiency and wealth”. Even the “trees” and “vines” were to bring an abundance of “fruit”.

When we consider these words of Joel, we may marvel at the LORD's willingness to bring forth abundance for the “beasts of the field” and the fruit bearing “trees”. This demonstrates not only the ability of the LORD to bless, but His disposition to do so. We may wonder why anyone would resist a relationship with God Almighty through Jesus Christ when His blessings are waiting and available. Let us allow the LORD to help us see the benefits of not only Judah humbling themselves before Him but us to benefit as well.

Next time Joel tells the “children of Zion” to “be glad”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.