DCLM Daily Manna Tuesday 4 March 2025
TOPIC: Being Forewarned
TEXT: Joel 2:1-11 (KJV)
KEY VERSE
“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand.”
Joel 2:1
DCLM Daily Manna 4 March 2025 Message
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, a United States military facility in the Pacific during World War 2, came without warning. It was a surprise operation by the Japanese forces. Because America was a neutral country in the conflict, the attack caught it unawares, leaving four of its battleships damaged and four others sunk. More than 180 US aircraft were also destroyed during the invasion. There were also heavy human casualties: 2403 Americans were killed, while 1178 others were wounded.
It would not have been such a litany of tragic statistics if the American forces had been forewarned the way a merciful God served notice to the children of Israel about an impending day of judgment. Abraham’s offspring had departed from Moses’ commandments as laid bare by God. They pursued the laws and customs of the heathen nations around them. The Lord would not have a reign of impunity. He would mete out judgment soon. But He would not do so without giving room for repentance.
READ DCLM Daily Manna 1 March 2025 – The Road to Damascus
A sudden assault on the land by heaven would wreak far more havoc than the Americans experienced at the hands of the Japanese. To avoid the fast approaching “day of gloominess…of clouds…when the earth shall quake…and the heavens shall tremble… the sun and moon shall be dark…”, the Lord called for trumpets to be blown to warn the people to make right their ways before Him.
Typical of a loving and longsuffering Lord, He would allow a window of waiting for those worthy of punishment for their wrongdoings to amend their ways. He sends His servants to preach the gospel of salvation and warn that these wide doors of grace would soon close. The plea of Joel to ancient Israel more than 3000 years ago applies to our age: “The day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: For the wise, God’s warning is a great opportunity to avert calamity.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 18-20
