In "The Great Stone Face" Nathaniel Hawthorne tells the story of a rock formation on the side of a mountain that resembled a human face. Legend had it that a truly great man resembling the great stone face would someday come to the nearby town. One boy made it his life's goal to study the face and search for its resemblance in others. Over the years he spent countless hours gazing with wonder at that awesome face. As the boy matured into manhood and as life's influences molded him, those around him were amazed to see what he had become—the great stone face!

The people of Judah were not being cautious about where they focused their attention. Joel's role was to warn them that their faces—and hearts—might be turning to stone.

We know little about the man Joel other than the fact that his message was geared toward Judah and that he was probably a resident of Jerusalem. The date of his writing is disputed among scholars. While some say Joel prophesied as late as 400 B.C., many believe he was a contemporary of Jonah and Amos.

Joel's prophecy came in the wake of a devastating locust plague. Joel saw this plague as a sign of God's judgment and warned that unless the people returned to the Lord they would face even greater judgment on the day of the Lord. But to those willing to "rend their hearts" he promised great blessings that would more than repay "the years the locusts have eaten" (2:25).