Joel 2
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Listen carefully. A long time ago there lived a man. His name was Joel. Joel had to tell the people something from God.
Joel said: "Blow the horn! Loud! Toooot!" Everybody had to listen.
There was something bad coming. Big clouds of grasshoppers. Millions of them! They flew over the land. Kkkrrrrr, went their little wings. They ate everything. All the leaves. All the grain. All the grapes. The trees were bare. The fields were empty. There was no more bread.
The people were sad. Very sad. And a little bit scared.
Then God spoke. God said: "Come back to Me. Not with new clothes. Not with a big party. But with your whole heart. Cry if you want to cry. Come close to Me."
And the people did. They came to God. They said: "God, we are sorry."
And do you know what God did? God is good. God is patient. God said: "I will help you. I will send rain. Soft rain. The grain will grow again. The trees will get leaves again. There will be bread again. And grapes. And oil. Enough for everyone!"
God said even more. "I will pour out My Spirit. On big people. On small people. On boys. On girls. Everyone will know Me."
What Does This Mean?
God saw the sad people. God heard them crying. And God did not stay far away. God came close.
That is who God is. When you say: "God, I am sorry," then God says: "Come here." Like a daddy who opens his arms wide.
The Common Thread
God kept His promise. Much later, God sent Jesus. And after Jesus went to heaven, God did what He had said in Joel. He gave His Spirit. To big people. To small people. Just like He promised.
God always keeps His word. Always.
For You
Sometimes something goes wrong. Maybe you break something. Maybe you hit your little brother. Maybe you said something ugly.
Then your tummy feels funny. You know it was not nice.
You can go to God. You can just say it. "God, I did something wrong."
And God? God says: "Come here. I love you. It is okay."
God is not angry for a long time. God wants to hug. Really.
And when the sun shines tomorrow, and the rain falls on the flowers, then you can think: God takes care of us. Just like He said.
Talk About It
What do you do when you have done something wrong? Can you tell God about it?
The people were sad, and God helped them. Have you ever been sad? What helped you?
Praying Together
Dear God,
Thank You that You are close. When I am sad, You see me. When I do something wrong, You listen. Thank You for the rain. Thank You for the bread. Thank You that You love me.
Amen.
Questions about Joel 2
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Joel 2 about?
What does Joel 2 say?
What does Joel 2 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from Joel 2?
Why is Joel 2 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
Who knows? He may turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him." Joel doesn't promise. He hopes. And notice what the blessing is: grain and wine for an offering. The locusts had eaten even the people's ability to worship. So God gives back, not luxury, but enough to bring him something again. Repent without guarantees. He may leave more behind than you dared ask.
You will know that I am among Israel, and that I am Yahweh, your God, and there is no one else." Notice when He says it: after the locusts, after the stripped fields. Not before the loss. Sometimes you only learn He is among you in the place where everything else was eaten away. What has that emptiness taught you about who stayed?
Whoever will call on Yahweh's name shall be saved." Joel says this while the sky goes dark and the day of the LORD presses in. No qualifications, no record of good behavior. Just a voice crying out.
Then look at the end of the verse: the remnant are "those whom Yahweh calls." Your cry to him was his call to you first.
The locusts had eaten everything. Fields stripped, storehouses empty. Into that bareness God says, "Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in Yahweh, your God." Rejoice before the first drop falls. He promises "the former rain in just measure," rain to plant by, rain to ripen by. Not too much. Not too little. Can you trust the measure He gives you this year?
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
Open in the Children's Bible tool
Philippines
Nigeria
Zimbabwe
India
Zambia
South Africa
Malawi
Kenya
Indonesia
DR Congo
Ghana
Nepal
Cameroon
Mozambique
Benin
