Contemplative Bible Reading

Joel 3:7-8 (New International Version 2011)

⁷ “See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done.⁸ I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away.” The LORD has spoken.

In these verses, the LORD is addressing the nations who scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land (verse 2). This will be their punishment. This isn’t very nice.

I could read this as an endorsement of slavery. I mean, look at it – the LORD is using slavery to execute a just punishment on these evil nations. If the LORD used it as a punishment, why can’t we?

Sorry. I’m not the LORD. I don’t recall reading anywhere that the LORD has given me the right to do whatever He has done. This is especially true regarding events and reactions to events in the Old Testament.

What I believe is happening in these verses is that the LORD is using the language and examples of the day to state:

The evil you have done will be done to you.

Now this verse is speaking to me. Have I always loved others? (no) Have I hated a few folks now and then? (yes) Will such hatred be inflicted on me? (I pray for mercy instead of justice).