Locusts Cover The Land

Joel 1:1–10
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The only fact given about Joel is that he was the son of Pethuel (v. 1). Two unique and never-to-be forgotten events are prophesied in this book. These are to be remembered and communicated to their decedents: the locust plague upon Israel and the day of the Lord. Nothing in the experience of Joel’s generation or that of their ancestors would be able to match the magnitude of the locust plague (vv. 2-3). This event was a massive invasion by locusts which completely destroyed the land’s vegetation (v. 4) . These dreaded insects flew into Palestine from the north-east, completely covering the earth for several miles and brought famine, death and pestilence in their wake. All the crops of the land were consumed, and the trees and plants were stripped of their bark and leaves (vv. 5-7).

The Jews were familiar with locusts. God had used this as one form of judgment that He sent upon Egypt and ultimately caused the Egyptians to let the Israelites leave the land. He takes one of the most insignificant instruments, the locust, to fulfill His purpose by executing judgment upon His people. His ultimate purpose is not merely for punishment but for the restoration of His people and bringing them back into fellowship with Him.

The virgin or young woman probably refers to the land itself or Jerusalem (v. 8). This virgin daughter of Judah was told to mourn bitterly, as a bride or bride-to-be would mourn over the unexpected death of the man to whom she was betrothed. Because of the devastation there was no fine flour or wine for the drink offerings (vv. 9-10). So powerful and tragic is that moment, that Joel lives through, that he talks about how people will tell their children. And the children will tell their children. And their children’s children will pass it onto the next generation. In the midst of disaster, the world around us can change, but God does not change. For Joel, the locusts came and changed everything, except God.

Application

Crises in our lives may bring us to grief as it did in Joel’s generation but it should also remind us that the Lord is still on the throne. He always knows what is best and I just need to trust Him at any cost with all my heart.