The Bible Recap – Day 255 (Joel 1-3) – Year 7

Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Date: September 12, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

In this episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble guides listeners through the book of Joel, highlighting its mysterious authorship, context, and the overarching messages of judgment and restoration. The discussion centers on the significance of the locust plague, the call to repentance, God's jealousy for His people, and prophecies about God’s Spirit and future hope. Tara-Leigh draws connections between Joel’s theology and the broader biblical narrative, focusing on how reading God’s Word deepens hope and understanding.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background and Mystery of Joel

• Who is Joel? When did he live?
  • Joel is a minor prophet with little biographical detail or a clear dating for his book. “We don't know anything about him even when he lived, but based on context clues, we can narrow it down to about a 300 year time frame...” (00:05)
  • The references to the Temple complicate dating—could be before or after exile.
• Scholarly Debate:
  • Some believe Joel prophesied about the Babylonian invasion (pre-exile), while others suggest a post-exilic timeframe because he addresses elders, not a king.
  • “But based on where it's placed in this plan, it seems ...[people] lean more toward pre exile. So imagine this being written around the same time Ezekiel wrote his book.” (01:01)

2. Joel’s Unusual Approach to Prophecy

• Big Picture, Not Details:
  • Joel is more vague than other prophets:
    • Does not name Israel’s specific sins
    • Barely mentions which enemy nations are involved
  • “As with most prophecy, this is going to be another zoom out book where we look at the big picture more than the details.” (01:27)

3. The Locust Plague as Judgment

• Event and Its Consequences:
  • Joel uses a literal locust plague as a metaphor for an invading army.
  • Total devastation: Locusts eat even the vines and fig trees, suggesting their thoroughness.
  • “Apparently, vines and fig trees are the locust version of pizza crust. Who knew?” (02:10)
  • The destruction affects both food supply and the ability to make temple offerings.
• Spiritual Meaning:
  • Joel calls priests to lament and call for a fast—lament signifies grief or repentance.
  • Fasting is always from food in the Bible (often paired with repentance).
  • “So even though Joel never names a specific sin, his call to fasting and repentance show us that he views this disaster as a consequence of something the people have done wrong.” (03:16)

4. Call to Genuine Repentance and God’s Desire

• “Day of the Lord” and Hope for Relentance:
  • Joel 2: God warns of a greater judgment—a day of the Lord.
  • Even amid promised judgment, God gives a way out—repentance.
  • Heartfelt Repentance:
    • God doesn’t want surface-level repentance. “God wants the people to truly repent, not just so the bugs will go away or the army won't come, but because their hearts are turned toward him and they truly want to walk in his ways.” (04:06)
    • Analogies:
      • A friend only seeks the bathroom for peace, not love for the bathroom itself. “Do we treat God like our bathroom sometimes? Probably. But does he shame us for that? No, but he knows there's more available for us because he's not just a refuge in times of trouble, he's also our song of joy.” (04:55)
    • “God tells the people, don't just come to me because you're in trouble. Come to me, but bring your broken heart, not the clothes you've torn.” (05:19)

5. God’s Character – A Source of Hope

• Scripture Repeats God’s Nature:
  • Joel cites Exodus 34:6-7, reminding listeners of God's character.
  • “Joel reminds the people who God has always been and says, we don't know what he'll do, but we know who he is, so repent.” (05:35)
• God Responds:
  • God’s jealousy is “an appropriate possessiveness that wants what's best in the situation.” (06:11)
  • God promises restoration: food, offerings, rain, and agricultural renewal. “Hooray for pizza crust.” (06:42)
  • He tells not only people, but also land and animals, not to be afraid. (07:00)

6. Prophecy and Restoration

• Promise to Restore Damage:
  • God will “restore the damage the locusts did, the locusts that he sent among them. He will restore all that was lost through his necessary punishment of their sins.” (07:21)
• Dual Prophecy - Now and Future:
  • Some prophecies saw immediate partial fulfillment; others await completion in end times.
  • “For instance, in 2:28, he says, it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh.” (07:37)
  • Reference to Pentecost: “Several hundred years later, a week after Jesus ascended to heaven, God the Spirit came to dwell in God's people.” (07:52)
  • Mystery remains around “cosmic phenomena”—literal or symbolic? “Will the sun actually be blotted out?...I always try to hold this stuff with an open hand because I truly have no idea.” (08:25)
• God’s Judgment and Future Zion:
  • God gathers people and nations for judgment; only His children will live in Zion after (08:45).

7. Joel’s Use of Scripture and Theological Significance

• References:
  • “Joel knows the Scriptures, and because of that, he knows that Scripture not only helps explain Israel's current situation, but it also helps him keep a true perspective for the future.” (09:02)
  • In three chapters, Joel references seven other prophets and Exodus.
• Godshot Moments:
  • “Mike Godshot showed up eight times in this short book. It was all the spots where Joel quotes Scripture.” (08:55)

8. Takeaway: Hope and the Purpose of God’s Word

• Why Read Scripture?
  • God wants to be known and also cares about our hope.
  • Romans 15:4: “These things were written that you might have hope. The more we know God and His Word, the more hopeful we will be. Not hope in our desired outcome, but hope in him, period.” (09:44)
• Personal Reflection:
  • “Did you ever think you'd find this much hope on these pages? I didn't. God has surprised me with hope.” (10:02)
  • Joel learned where hope is found: “Joel knows he's where the joy is.” (10:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Joel’s Mysterious Context:
  “Joel contains a lot of mystery. In addition to not really knowing who he is or when he lived, he also tends to be more vague than most other prophets.” (01:10)

• The Power of Repentance:
  “Do we treat God like our bathroom sometimes? Probably. But does he shame us for that? No, but he knows there's more available for us because he's not just a refuge in times of trouble, he's also our song of joy.” (04:55)

• God’s Character in Uncertainty:
  “We don't know what he'll do, but we know who he is, so repent.” (05:35)

• Scripture, Hope, and Purpose:
  “The more we know God and His Word, the more hopeful we will be. Not hope in our desired outcome, but hope in him, period.” (09:44)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:05] – Who is Joel? Background and Context
• [01:27] – Joel’s Prophetic Style: Big Picture, Not Details
• [02:10] – Locust Plague: Devastation and Temple Worship Impact
• [03:16] – Spiritual Response: Lament, Fasting, and Repentance
• [04:06] – God’s Call for Genuine, Heart-Level Repentance
• [05:35] – God’s Character and the Call to Remember
• [06:11] – Divine Jealousy Explained and Promises of Restoration
• [07:37] – Prophetic Promises for the Future: Spirit Outpouring and Salvation
• [08:25] – Open Questions on Cosmic Phenomena in Prophecy
• [09:02] – Joel’s Use of Scripture and Deep Theological Anchoring
• [09:44] – Purpose of Scripture: Building Hope

Conclusion

Tara-Leigh’s exploration of Joel emphasizes the importance of reading the Bible for both knowledge and hope, urging listeners to see beyond judgment to God’s heart for restoration. The episode underscores that “he's where the joy is” (10:23) and encourages ongoing engagement with Scripture as a continual source of deep, abiding hope.

Prepare for tomorrow: The next episode will begin the Book of Daniel. Tara-Leigh encourages listeners to watch the 8-minute overview linked in the show notes for helpful context.