Dear Parents,

This week we turned our attention back to Judah and picked up the big story with God’s people in quite a bind. The prophet Joel spoke to the Southern Kingdom of Judah at a time when the nation faced a crisis. The land had been invaded by locusts; swarms of the insects had devastated the plants. Judah was also affected by a severe drought.

Joel looked back on these events and announced that these were not mere natural disasters—the Lord was judging the people for their sin.

In Deuteronomy 28, God told His people, “If you do not obey the Lord your God by carefully following all His commands and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overtake you … You will sow much seed in the field but harvest little, because locusts will devour it” (vv. 15,38). That is exactly what happened.

These disasters were a wake-up call. Joel told the people to repent. He told them to fast. He told them to gather and repent together, crying out to God and asking Him to show them mercy. Then Joel looked ahead to the future. In essence he said, “You think this is bad? This is only the beginning!”

God’s judgment of Judah was not over. The Day of the Lord was coming, a day when God would show His strength through an invading army. For those who were not right with God, this was bad news. God’s power would be against them. So Joel implored them, “Return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster.”

God had pity on His people and promised to restore them. God would rather forgive His people than punish them.

Joel warned God’s people about the Day of the Lord—a day when God will judge His enemies, free His people, and make the world right again. Those who trust in Jesus will escape God’s punishment for sin. Jesus was punished in our place, and we share in His righteousness.

Help your kids see that God takes sin seriously, but at the same time, He showers grace upon those who trust in Jesus. God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for sins so people could be right with God. An ultimate Day of the Lord is coming, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

In Christ,
Jennifer Boegner
Children’s Ministry Director
The Well Community Church

Family Starting Points
 

Scripture Memory (3rd-5th): Romans 10:9-10

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”

Help your kids memorize these verses by listening to a song together throughout the week! Click here to listen to the 3rd-5th grade memory verse song or visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdtHUABFfpY

Scripture Memory (Pre-K and K-2nd): Ephesians 6:1

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

Help your kids memorize the verse by listening to a song together through the week! Click here to listen to the PreK-2nd grade memory verse song (you do not need to purchase the song to listen) or visit: https://jumpstart3.com/product/ephesians-61-3/

Big Picture Question: 

What is God like? God is slow to anger, merciful, and loving.

Bible Story: Joel, Prophet to Judah (Joel 1-3)

• The people of Judah did not do what God said to do.
• God sent a drought and many locusts, and their plants died.
• God warned His people to repent.
• Joel said God was going to send an army to take over Judah.
• One day, God would make everything right again.

Family Discussion Starters:

• Was it loving or unloving for God to stop the rain and send locusts to eat Judah’s plants?
• Will the Day of the Lord be scary for people who trust in Jesus? Why not?

Family Activity:

• Go online to find instructions to make a sundial. Work with your family to create one, and use it to time how long it takes for something to occur. Talk to your kids about why we wait eagerly for Christ to return.

Next Week: God Called Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1)