Then the Lord became jealous for His land and had pity on His people. The Lord answered and said to His people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.” (Joel 2:18,19 ESV)
Jealousy?
When I am jealous, it is a bad thing.
But when God is jealous, He blesses His people! He hates it when God’s people receive the WRONG kind of attention from others.
When He sees HIS enemies pressing His people, God helps us.
When He sees His people oppressed and threatened, God helps us.
When He sees His people suffering, God helps us.
The grain, wine, and oil are not just random examples of God’s blessing, either.
The grain and oil make bread. And together with wine, we see shades of our celebrations of the Lord’s Supper.
How does God bless His enemy-oppressed, threatened, suffering folk? Not just with food… but with a Savior! With a Messiah! With Jesus Himself.