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Who Knows?
Who Knows?
“Who knows whether He will not turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, even a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?” (Joel 2:14). What a reality check! Joel calls the people to repent, then asks, “Who knows whether God will decide to forgive you?” He doesn’t say, “Repent, and God will have to forgive you.” God isn’t required to forgive. When we repent, the ball is in God’s court to do what He will with it. If a man cheats on his wife and apologizes, he doesn’t get to say, “You have to stay with me now because I said I was sorry.” No, the ball is in her court and he is at her mercy. Who knows what she’ll do?
Despite the reality check, we can still find hope and comfort. In the previous verse, Joel says “Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.” (2:13b). The bad news is, God doesn’t have to forgive us when we repent. The good news is, He is more than willing! Who knows? God knows, and He has promised “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).
