"Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?"

Herein is an appeal to Israel to return to their God. He had blessed them in many ways, but they had chosen to worship other gods, which are not gods. They had determined to set aside their God, and His ways, of which He had graciously told them. So the LORD Himself (see Him with arms held open wide?) appeals to them to turn to Him. This is not an appeal to acknowledge Him, neither is it an appeal to simply put aside idolatry. God is looking for a wholehearted repentance from their sin. He is not interested in being acknowledged, He wants full devotion. The phrase concerning rending their hearts reminds of their practice of rending their clothes when they were in sorrow. It was clear to all around when one tore his clothes that he was sorrowing. But God looks on the heart. "Rend your heart," He says. Turn fully away from your sin and fully to God.

For God is not waiting in the heavens to lower the boom on us in our failures. He is not looking for an opportunity to say, "Well, he really messed up this time. Guess this one is not fit for me." He is a God that is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. In Exodus 34 Moses heard nearly identical words. In Exodus 32 the Israelites had fallen to worshipping the golden calf. In chapter 33, Moses intercedes, and God tells Moses to lead the people on in the journey to the promised land. But Moses requests a special vision of God. And when he sees God in Chapter 34, the LORD introduces Himself to Moses using exactly the same ideas... gracious, merciful, slow to anger, of great kindness. This is God. He wants so much for the Israelites to turn to Him. And in this day and age, this appeal is held open for any who will come to Him. He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.

The prophet Joel interjects a thought here. Will God repent? The judgment that had come upon Israel was deserved. But will God repent? He looks for them, and us, to turn to Him. In His repentance, Joel notes, He may leave a blessing. What kind of a blessing might God leave? A meat offering and a drink offering. How is this a blessing? An offering is something that you give to God. It appears that those that are blessed in this way are still left with nothing, doesn't it? But these things speak of worship to God. The ultimate end of man is to worship God and enjoy Him forever. When He blesses, we should be moved to worship Him for His having blessed. If we are not moved to worship, then we need to check our hearts. When He blesses we are afforded a wonderful opportunity to praise Him. And God inhabits the praises of His people. He cares for us far more than we can even comprehend. He cares so much for us that He punished His only begotten Son for the sin we commit. He is surely due our worship.

How has God blessed us today? May we worship Him for it. Praise Him for His love and care.