Episode Overview

Podcast: A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace
Episode: S4: Week 44 Day 2: Going Deeper in Joel 2:28-29
Hosts: Alexa and Beth
Date: October 28, 2025

This episode of "A Year in the Bible" explores Joel 2:28-29, focusing on its context within the Old Testament prophetic literature and its insights into God's character. Alexa and Beth guide listeners through an understanding of Joel’s message, the Day of the Lord, and what the promise of God’s Spirit means in the larger biblical narrative—especially how it points forward to Jesus.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Context of Joel 2:28–29

• Background of Joel:

  • Joel is a prophet about whom little is known—unlike other prophets, his book does not give details about his setting, the reigning king, or specific dates ([00:54]).
  • Scholars generally place Joel’s book in Judah, pre-exile to Babylon, inferred from internal evidence ([00:54–01:14]).
  • The book is addressed to God’s people who are experiencing or about to experience judgment for their idolatry and disobedience ([01:14]).
  • Chapters 1 and 2 establish the seriousness of God’s coming judgment.

  "So, like all of the prophets we have studied so far, Joel is pronouncing judgment on God's people for their idolatry and disobedience to his commands."
  — Beth, [01:14]

The Day of the Lord & Call to Repentance

• The Day of the Lord:

  • A theme found throughout the prophets—God’s day of judgment, described as “terrible and dreadful. Who can endure it?” ([01:58]).
  • Joel 2:11 specifically highlights the severity of this coming day.

  "On this day, God's judgment will fall on the people, and it will not be pretty. He says explicitly in Joel 2:11 that the day of the Lord is terrible and dreadful. Who can endure it?"
  — Alexa, [01:58]

• Call to Repentance:

  • Despite clear warnings of judgment, Joel also calls for heartfelt repentance:
    • Joel 2:12–14 invites the people to turn to God “with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God.”
    • Emphasizes God’s willingness to relent and restore if repentance is genuine ([02:14]).

  "Even now, this is the Lord's declaration. Turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and he relents from sending disaster."
  — Alexa quoting Joel 2:12–13, [02:14]

God’s Response and Promise

• Restoration:

  • Upon repentance, God promises restoration both to the people and their land ([03:14]).

• Promise of the Spirit:

  • Joel 2:28–29 describes a future outpouring of God's Spirit, an unprecedented act of divine generosity and relationship.
  • This promise is significant not only in Joel’s time but as a prophecy ultimately pointing to the fuller revelation in Christ and the New Testament ([03:14–03:34]).

  "God will then pour His Spirit out on his people."
  — Alexa, [03:32]

God’s Character Revealed

• Attributes of God:

  • Joel’s language echoes and repeats the self-revelation God gave Moses in Exodus: gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love ([03:43]).
  • Though God’s judgment is real and just, His steadfast love is even more enduring.

  "He is abundantly merciful. I love that phrase, abounding in steadfast love. His judgment is great, but his steadfast, faithful love towards his people abounds."
  — Beth, [04:03]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Of all the prophets, Joel is one of the ones that we actually know the least about. So while many prophetic books begin with a description of where the prophet is, what king was reigning…Joel doesn't give us any of that information."
  — Beth, [00:54]

• "Judgment is great, but his steadfast, faithful love abounds."
  — Beth, [04:03]

• "This is actually a common description of who God is. We saw it first in Exodus, and then it's repeated throughout Scripture, all over the different Old Testament books. He is abundantly merciful."
  — Beth, [03:43]

• "Joel here is encouraging the people to repent and turn back to the Lord."
  — Alexa, [02:39]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:54] – Context and historical background of Joel
• [01:58] – Explanation of the Day of the Lord and judgment
• [02:14] – Joel’s call for repentance; reading of Joel 2:12–13
• [03:14] – Sequence: sin, judgment, repentance, mercy, and outpouring of the Spirit
• [03:43] – Discussion on the character of God as gracious and merciful
• [04:03] – Emphasis on steadfast love and God’s response to repentance

Episode Takeaways

• Joel’s prophecy, though rooted in judgment, is ultimately a narrative of grace, restoration, and future hope.
• God’s judgment and steadfast love are both real; through repentance, there is always a pathway to restoration.
• The promise of God’s Spirit poured out on all people points forward to Christ and the New Testament, demonstrating that the whole Bible points to Him.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the character of God, recognizing His mercy and faithfulness, and to see how even in judgment, God’s ultimate purpose is restoration and relationship with His people.

Next Episode Teaser:
Tomorrow, Alexa and Beth will turn to the New Testament to further explore these themes and see how the promise in Joel is fulfilled in Christ.