The second chapter of Joel’s prophecy describes the horrific events surrounding the Day of the Lord. It concludes with these words, before a call for repentance:
The earth quakes before them;
the heavens tremble.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.
The Lord utters his voice
at the head of his army;
how vast is his host!
Numberless are those who obey his command.
Truly the day of the Lord is great,
terrible indeed—who can endure it? (Joel 2.10-11)
When we read the Bible, it’s tempting to skip over the harsh judgments and terrifying depictions of God’s punishment, preferring to focus on more pleasant passages.
Yet, we must confront a challenging question: How can the same God who loved the world so much that He gave His only Son to die on the cross for our sins also be the one who inflicts such severe punishment on His creation?
Not Who We Are
Bear with me for a few moments and listen to my argument all the way through. We will circle back to answer the question: Why would a loving God bring such judgment upon the world?
I recently read a story by Mark Leibovich in the “Atlantic.” The heading was: “If Donald Trump wins a second term, perhaps we’ll finally dismiss the myth that ‘this is not who we are.'”
He observes, “On January 6th, Nancy Mace, a newly elected Republican representative from North South Carolina, said, ‘This is not who we are. We’re better than this.’
“President Joe Biden said, ‘Let me be very clear. The scenes of chaos at the Capitol did not reflect a true America. They do not represent who we are.'”
Leibovich contends that the overwhelming support of Donald Trump by the Republican Party and the American populace at large indicates that, yes, Donald Trump represents who we are.
What about President Joe Biden?
As of four days ago, 53% of Americans disapprove of President Biden, according to a “Reuters” survey.
According to a CNN poll, “A majority, 61%, say they think that Biden had at least some involvement in Hunter Biden’s business dealings, with 42% saying they think he acted illegally.”
Returning to Leibovich’s theme, we can’t deny that this, too, is what we are. The majority of Americans are the ones who put him in office.
What about Vladimir Putin?
I am sure the vast majority of Russians don’t feel that they have any responsibility for the horrific war between their nation and Ukraine. However, they have a man in office who is about to be elected for the fifth time, and they have done nothing or feel like they can do nothing to stop it.
They can’t say Vladimir Putin is not who we are.
What about Israel and Hamas?
My understanding of current news suggests that while most Arab and Muslim nations do not openly support the atrocities committed during Hamas’ invasion of Israel, including rape, child fatalities, and mutilation, their inability to denounce these acts stems from their involvement.
By providing financial and material support for the attack, these nations are indirectly associated with the actions they cannot publicly support.
They can’t say that the behavior of Hamas is not who they are, because it is.
I am sympathetic to Israel’s situation in the war with Hamas. They are in a no-win situation. To root out terrorists, they have to enter into an area that involves thousands of civilian casualties.
With that being said, they can’t say, “We are better than this.” They can only say, “This is who we are.”
What about Hitler?
During the World War II era, Glenn Clarke authored articles in “The Atlantic”, making an observation that resonates with the various examples I’ve discussed today.
He asserted that Hitler was simply a manifestation of the spirit prevalent among the German people at that time.
The German people couldn’t say of Hitler that he is not who we are. Rather, they had to say he represents who we are.
God’s Justice
Whether you think Joe Biden is the antichrist or Donald Trump is the devil incarnate, we have to recognize that both of these men have been elected by the popular majority of Americans. They represent who we are.
The same goes for the people in Russia who permit Vladimir Putin to wage his war against Ukraine or those who allow Hamas and Israel to brutalize innocent human beings.
When we look at all of this, we have to say, yes, this is who we are. And whether I like it or not, I have a part in it, too. It is who I am.
Abraham stated a very important point when he asked, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” (Genesis 18.25).
Paul highlighted both God’s justice and His grace as our justifier. He wrote, “. . . so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3.26).
God would not be just if he didn’t bring judgment on humans who cause such great harm on other humans.
The Day of the Lord will bring us face to face with the fact that we are not better than this. Instead, we are all sinners in need of His grace.
The role of Jesus’ followers is not to try to change the world through politics, but rather to give people the gospel.
We can be one beggar telling another beggar where the bread is. One person in need of God’s grace showing others how to experience it.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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