AN ARMY OF LOCUSTS (JOEL 1:1-7)

REFLECTION The theme for our reflection is an army of locusts. A locust is a large, mainly tropical grasshopper with strong powers of flight. It is usually solitary, but from time to time there is a population explosion and it migrates in vast swarms which cause extensive damage to vegetation. Locusts symbolize destruction or devastation…

Jean-Paul Agidi

May 3, 2022

2–3 minutes

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is an army of locusts. A locust is a large, mainly tropical grasshopper with strong powers of flight. It is usually solitary, but from time to time there is a population explosion and it migrates in vast swarms which cause extensive damage to vegetation. Locusts symbolize destruction or devastation in Scripture. Joel 1:4 identifies four types of locusts according to their level of destruction, they are cutting locusts, swarming locusts, hopping locusts and destroying locusts. Each causes more harm than the other.

The Prophet Joel cautioned the Israelites to repent and turn to the Lord else their land and food crops will be destroyed by an army of locusts. The army of locusts again signifies the attack of other nations on Isreal. Joel, therefore, cautioned Isreal, “Awake, you drunkards, and weep, and wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it is cut off from your mouth. For a nation has come up against my land, powerful and beyond number; its teeth are lions’ teeth, and it has the fangs of a lioness. It has laid waste my vine and splintered my fig tree; it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down; their branches are made white ” (Joel 1:5-7)

Dear friend in the Lord, every living creature is under the Lordship and command of God. If an army of locusts could be used by God to punish the sins of His people then there is nothing God cannot do. It is for this purpose we must fear the Lord and humble ourselves, especially in times of prosperity. It is interesting how pride, arrogance and disobedience can become our way of life when God blesses us and increases our gains. We sometimes become like the rich fool in Luke 12:19-20, after having been blessed abundantly, he failed to give glory to God but said boastfully “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ It may take just an army of locusts to humble the pride and disobedience of Isreal. Let us turn away from our sins, repent and accept the gift of Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ so that we will remain reconciled to God to avoid the army of locusts destroying the blessings of God in our lives and most importantly having an assurance of our eternal life.

PRAY

Dear Lord have mercy on us when we go wayward, may the Holy Spirit guide us through the knowledge of your Word to humble ourselves and obey you always. We humbly pray that you Increase our gains and protect our crops, harvests and the fruits of our labour from an army of physical and spiritual locusts. Amen.