“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed. Joel 2:25-26
I’ve never been in a swarm of locusts; have you? Chances are, unless you’re a farmer (or unless you’ve watched “Jurassic World: Dominion”) you haven’t even seen a swarm of locusts. From videos I’ve watched, they’re a real pestilence. They show up in a huge, buzzing, menacing cloud. They land on green fields and eat until they’re full. That means they eat until the field is barren and all green life has been devoured. Then, they take off to consume the next target.
If you rely on a field for your food or your livelihood and locusts show up to eat it bald, you’re going to go poor or you’re going to starve. And, when the locusts do show up, there isn’t much you can do to stop them without massive amounts of pesticides or fire (both of which could be harmful, even fatal, to both you and the bugs). Here in the West, locusts aren’t as much of a threat as they once were, thanks to those pesticides and other insect control methods. They’re still a problem in Africa and South America, but in most other places, people don’t worry about locusts.
So, since we don’t have much to relate to locusts, let’s consider “locusts” to be our own actions. For years, our sins have swarmed us. Sometimes they’re overpowering, and they denude our lives and even the lives of those around us. Most folks, even when they can’t put their fingers on it, feel hopeless, void of feeling even, when their lives are laid waste by the locusts of bad, sinful choices.
Now consider the joy of sweet relief. Take up the joy of understanding that God Himself, in the form of His Son, Jesus, has filled your void, given you hope, taken away your hurt and shame. Don’t listen to me preach: go find out for yourself. Take Him up on His invitation to join with Him in this life. Follow Him, learn from Him, listen to Him talking through your conscience. It won’t take long until the darkness of sin gives way to the light of Christ. At that time, you’ll see your fields growing again, and you’ll see the wonders God is working in you. You’ll feel full. If you’re like me, you’ll find it’s much more satisfying…and powerful…than any cloud of bugs
For more reading: Exodus 10:14-15, Leviticus 23:40, Deuteronomy 28:39, Psalm 126:3, Isaiah 62:9, Amos 4:9, Joel 2:27
Lord, You are my relief. You are my joy. You are more powerful than anything.
Practical Proverbs 