Posture Yourself: God Is Restoring the Sacrifice

Pastor Ayeisha Isidore
Aug 29
4 min read

“The Lord says, ‘I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced.’”‭‭Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is a famous passage of Scripture! Can you imagine being in a church service where the preacher declares, “You are getting it all back!” Imagine the energy in that room. Everybody is celebrating and shouting because restoration has been prophesied.

You may have done it before. I know I have. However, it wasn’t until this fast that I realized I may have been celebrating for the wrong reason.

Remember, one of the goals of this fast is to shift from being a consumer to a producer. We don’t just want something from God; we want to satisfy God. We understand that as we seek Him first, He will ultimately take care of us. Despite that reality, we don’t want to make ourselves the priority. We want to make Him the priority.

Reading Joel 1, I realized that He was the priority of this text too!

The locusts came because of Israel’s disobedience and devoured their sustenance. Whenever we no longer have money, food, or resources, our first instinct is often to think about ourselves:

How am I going to eat? How am I going to live? How am I going to survive?

But guess what? This text was not just about their food or their survival. It was also about their ability to sacrifice.

“For there is no grain or wine to offer at the Temple of the Lord. So the priests are in mourning. The ministers of the Lord are weeping. Dress yourselves in burlap and weep, you priests! Wail, you who serve before the altar! Come, spend the night in burlap, you ministers of my God. For there is no grain or wine to offer at the Temple of your God.”‭‭Joel‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬, ‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Because they had no provision, they lost the ability to present a proper offering.

They were supposed to be serving in the Temple and presenting offerings before God. But because they had nothing, they couldn’t give.

That is a sermon within itself.

What you have is not just about satisfying you. It is also about giving God what He is due.

The priests were commanded to mourn because they could no longer keep the altar serviced. Think about that.

Do you grieve when you have nothing to present to God?

Are you that invested in your worship?

They called a fast because they wanted to be able to worship Him properly again. When was the last time you fasted selflessly—not so you could get something from God, but so you could give something to God?

“That is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning… Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the Lord your God as before.’”‭‭Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬, ‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There it is!

The blessing wasn’t just about their satisfaction. The blessing would restore their ability to sacrifice.

God was not simply restoring what they could consume. He was restoring what they could present.

But they had to become hungry enough to get their sacrifice back.

Are you hungry to rebuild your altar?

If you are, Joel shows us the posture to assume:

“Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.”‭‭Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God wasn’t looking for an outward performance of repentance. He wanted their hearts.

And look at how God responds to that posture:

“The Lord will reply, ‘Look! I am sending you grain and new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy your needs. You will no longer be an object of mockery among the surrounding nations.’”‭‭Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Then we arrive at the famous promise:

“Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced.”‭‭Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yes, God promised to satisfy them. Yes, God promised restoration. Yes, God promised that the years devastated by the locust would be restored.

But now we understand restoration differently.

God was not merely restoring their consumption. He was restoring their sacrifice.

So when we shout, “I’m getting it all back!” our excitement should not only be about what we will finally be able to enjoy.

It should also be about what we will finally be able to lay on the altar.

Lord, restore me until I have something to give You again.

Reflection Questions

Have I been more focused on what God can restore to me than what He wants to restore through me?
Is there anything in my life that has weakened my ability or desire to sacrifice, worship, or serve God fully?
What would it look like for me to rebuild my altar and become intentional about giving God what He is due?

Prayer Points

Lord, restore my heart before You restore my possessions. Give me a genuine desire to seek You for who You are, not only for what You can give.
Lord, restore my capacity to sacrifice. Restore my time, strength, resources, discipline, and devotion so that I can present something pleasing to You.
Lord, help me rebuild my altar. Remove every distraction, habit, and condition that has interrupted my worship, and teach me to keep the altar serviced.