The remnant whom the LORD shall call

Joel 2:32

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

This is an exceedingly comforting verse for God’s people. And its primary object is Israel, the chosen people of God. That is who Joel is speaking to. But let us not miss, that this is for us today. Never has there been a more relevant passage, a more pertinent pronouncement of the current state of our nation than this very book of the Bible. Therefore we may confidently put ourselves into this prophecy without compromising the intended meaning. We must know that these words are given for all people and for all time. He speaks to His people about their spiritual condition, and commands them to sanctify a fast and call a solemn assembly. And He promised that He would be gracious unto them, and leave a blessing behind Him. This is a promise to which we must cling. The ministers of the Lord are told to weep and cry unto the Lord, “Spare thy people, O Lord!” And we must beseech the Lord to spare His people from reproach! We are on the verge and precipice of this same thing. But the Lord promises that He will send the former rain and the latter rain. This is that for which we long! The latter rain! We have seen the former rain, with all of the blessings He has bestowed on this nation. But, dear friends, we need the latter rain also. Will you pray with me for this?

The Lord said that He would restore the years that the locust hath eaten. I have often derived comfort from this idea. Much can be destroyed, but God can restore it to its former state, and even better! He can restore that which has been dismantled and decimated. It may feel hopeless, but it is not hopeless with God! He may deal wondrously with His people! But who is it with whom He will work? Who is it who will make the difference? It is not the masses, it is not the majority, and it is not the mainstream. But, as this verse says, it is the remnant whom the Lord shall call. The Lord promised that He would save Israel through the remnant. There will always be a remnant who follow the Lord. And that is all that He needs! He only needs a remnant! And thank God for this, that His work can be done with just a few.

The remnant whom the Lord shall call! Would you like to be part of this remnant? Would you like to be the minority whom the Lord touches and uses? That is all He needed in Israel, and it is all He needs today. Do not think that we must have a massive change in our nation, or a turning back by every person. The Lord is not looking for that. He is, however, looking for the remnant. The remnant that He can call. Are you listening to His call? Are you heeding it? Do you desire to be used? Why not pray right now, and ask Him to spare the nation and the people that you love, and make you part of the remnant that the Lord can use to call His people back?

“Dear Lord, we find great hope in the prophet Joel’s writings, knowing that as you needed just a small remnant to bring Israel back to yourself, so this day you are only looking for a remnant. May you spare your people, and restore the years that have been consumed by wickedness, sin, and greed. And bring us back to you. May we all pray and seek you, calling all of your people back to the Lord. Make us the remnant that you will call and use to bring the nation back. Give us, we pray, the latter rain. And we shall praise you for it. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”