Session 13 Session 13: Joel, Prophet to Judah FOR THE Joel, Prophet to Judah LEADER Joel 1–3 All we know about the prophet Joel is that he was the son of Pethuel. Not only is the author of the book a mystery, the text gives few clues about Joel’s audience and when he penned his book. However, it is a remarkable book about God’s desire for all to repent and experience the great hope that comes through a relationship with God. Joel began by describing a terrible plague of locusts that had never before been seen. Apparently this plague was so massive it had no comparison and would likely have no comparison in the future, as Joel encouraged the people to tell their grandchildren about the plague. Joel used the imagery of the plague to highlight the totality of destruction that would come to those who did not repent and fear the Lord. Joel referred to this as “the day of the Lord” (Joel 1:15). Sin has a price and God wants people to repent. In his call for national repentance, Joel identified four distinct groups of people who need to seek forgiveness. He began by addressing the elderly. Joel challenged the elderly to tell their offspring of the disaster they had seen to encourage faithfulness to God. The second group he addressed were the drunkards. The disaster had stripped the fields of grapes, and the drunkards were representative of the nation who chose to indulge in personal enjoyment instead of putting faith in God. The third group were the farmers who suffered hardest in the plague. Without crops the farmers had no hope of continued financial prosperity. Not only that, but now no food existed for either people or livestock. Finally, Joel called for the priests to repent for not leading the nation to faithfully follow God. God desires for all to repent and turn to Him, yet the priests had failed to share this. As with the other prophetic books, Joel matched the announcement of coming disaster with a promise of hope for those who put their trust in God. The Book of Joel ends with a message of hope for those who choose repentance. Sin has consequences, but God will renew those who repent of their sin. God is both a God of judgment and of mercy. Session 13: Joel, Prophet to Judah © 2018 LifeWay 101 OVERVIEW SESSION FOCUS BIBLE PASSAGE: Joel 1–3 MEMORY VERSE: Joel 3:16b TEXT TRUTH: Sin has a price and God wants people to repent. CHRIST IN CONTEXT: The Book of Joel heralds the message that the Day of the Lord was coming. The only hope for Israel was to repent of their sin. One day, Jesus will return and everyone will stand before God to be judged for their sin. Our only hope is to repent and trust in Jesus. Jesus will redeem and restore His people when they turn to Him and repent of their sin. GET STARTED TOOLS BIBLE STUDY TOOLS SMALL GROUP TOOLS (10 MINUTES) (35 MINUTES) (30 MINUTES) ¨ Bible Skills: 2 cheap ¨ Jump In: play dough, ¨ Explorer Guides: Bibles, pizza pans, clothespins, googly eyes, chenille Explorer Guides, pens permanent marker, stems, rounded ¨ Move: none “Joel” (Books of the toothpicks, “Prophet ¨ Make: clothespins, green Bible Posters), “Christ Statue” (DVD-ROM) permanent markers, in Context: Joel” (Poster ¨ Examine the Text: googly eyes, hot glue gun Pack) “Food” (enhanced CD), (teacher only), green Bibles, “Text Truth chenille stems, scissors Strips” (Poster Pack), ¨ Explore: small spiral basket notebooks or 3 prong ¨ Play the Video: Explore notebooks with loose the Bible on Location paper, stickers, markers video ¨ Memory Verse: “Joel 3:16b” (Poster Pack), marker board, dry erase marker, fly swatter ¨ Prayer: Family Cards NOTE: Downloadable versions of DVD items are available in the Digital Video Bundle. Downloadable versions of enhanced CD items are available in the Music and Print Extras Bundle. For free online training on how to lead a group, visit ministrygrid.com/web/explorethebible. Explore the Bible: Younger Kids 102 © 2018 LifeWay BIBLE STORY JOEL, PROPHET TO JUDAH TEXT CONNECTION Joel 1–3 • Joel is a relatively unknown prophet. The message Joel Judah had a problem. Judah sinned and turned away from God. God loved shared, however, is powerful and is a message of renewal His people and wanted them to come back to Him. So God sent a prophet, for those who repent of their Joel, with a message for the people of Judah. sin and put their faith in God. Sin has consequences, First Joel told the people about a plague of locusts. The plague would be so but God wants repentance bad that people would tell their children who would tell their children who and will restore broken would tell their children. The locusts would eat EVERYTHING—grapes, relationships. figs, pomegranates, date palms, apples, olives, and more. • Joel’s message identified Next, Joel told the people about an army that was coming. The army would four distinct groups that needed to repent. The first be like a great fire, destroying everything. Their horses and chariots would group were the elderly. be mighty and fierce, attacking and defeating cities. God had called for their repentance because they But God had a message for His people, “Turn to Me with all your heart. had failed to faithfully share Return to the Lord. For He is gracious and compassionate. He is slow to the things of God with their anger. He is rich in faithful love. And He relents from sending disaster.” children and grandchildren. “Who knows?” Joel told the people, “God may stop the bad things if you • Joel shared similar repent.” Joel called the people to gather to worship God and repent of their messages for the drunkards, farmers, and the priests. sin. Each group had failed in After the people repented, God promised, “I will provide for You again. You their command to be faithful to God, and Joel specifically will have food in abundance. The destruction from the locusts and the army challenged each group to will be reversed. You will have plenty to eat. You will praise the name of the renew their relationship with Lord. You will know that I am the Lord your God. I will pour out My Spirit. God. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” • God works through even Joel’s message also contained words for the enemies of Judah. “Tyre, Sidon, difficult situations to bring reconciliation. At the end and Philistia, you took My silver and gold and treasures in My temple. You of the story of Joseph’s sent My people far away. I will bring them back. You will be defeated.” life, Joseph reconciles with his brothers who had sold God’s people had hope. Joel shared God’s promise, “On that day, the Lord him into slavery. Joseph’s will be a refuge and stronghold for His people. My people will know that I reconciliation reflects God’s am the Lord your God.” renewal of those who repent. EXPLORE THE KEY POINTS BIBLE AT HOME • Judah had rejected God and would face consequences for their sin. See the enhanced CD for • God still loved His people. additional family resources. Session 13: Joel, Prophet to Judah © 2018 LifeWay 103 GET STARTED GET STARTED (10 MINUTES) TOOLS: BIBLE SKILLS • Bible Skills: two cheap • Give several books to each child. Help children use the contents page pizza pans, clothespins, of their Bible for assistance to decide if the books they have are found permanent marker, “Joel” in the Old or New Testament. Guide kids to clip their books onto the (Books of the Bible Posters), correct pizza pan. Assist children as needed. Check their work as they are “Christ in Context: Joel” completing the activity. (Poster Pack) • Say: “Today, we are studying another Minor Prophet in the Bible. His name was Joel. Is Joel found in the Old Testament or the New PREPARATION: Testament? That’s right, Joel is found in the Old Testament. Let’s find the • Write Old Testament and Book of Joel and learn a little more about this Bible book from our ‘Joel’ New Testament on the pizza poster.” pans. Write the books of the • Assist children in finding Joel. Highlight some of the key points from the Bible on the clothespins. “Joel” poster. Use a variety of books, • Display and read the “Christ in Context: Joel” poster. include all the books from • Dismiss to Bible Study. this quarter, or use all the Bible books. Base how many you use on the size of your group. BIBLE SKILLS SPOTLIGHT • Locates the two main parts of the Bible—the Old Testament and the New Testament—and identifies some books in each part. • Begins to use the Bible for daily Bible reading. • Locates all books of the Bible by using the contents page or with teacher guidance. Uses other tools for learning from the Bible, including Bible-learning apps, Bible dictionaries, and maps. Explore the Bible: Younger Kids 104 © 2018 LifeWay BIBLE STUDY BIBLE STUDY (35 MINUTES) JUMP IN TOOLS: • As children arrive, have play dough, googly eyes, chenille stem pieces, • Jump In: play dough, and rounded toothpicks available for children to use. Ask your boys and googly eyes, chenille girls to create bugs with the play dough and other suggested supplies. stems, rounded toothpicks, • Say: “In our Bible story today, Joel tells the people of Judah that God “Prophet Statue” (DVD- would send a plague of locusts to destroy all of their food. A locust is a ROM) large grasshopper.