For a nation has come up against My land,
Strong, and without number;
His teeth are the teeth of a lion,
And he has the fangs of a fierce lion. Joel 1:6 NKJV
Let’s look at the context for the book of Joel and today’s verse. Joel was one of the twelve minor prophets in the Bible. The Bible doesn’t tell us anything more about him other than his father’s name, Pethuel. Sometimes the Bible gives the reader enormous detail about certain things and other times, it does not. If the Bible repeats something many times, it’s important and the reader should note it.
The first five verses of chapter one of Joel was describing a time in the southern kingdom of Juda where there were locusts devastating the land. He wasn’t announcing the coming judgment of the land but was describing their present state with locusts swarming, then crawling, then consuming. It was so destructive and massive Joel tells the people to tell their children and their children’s children.
Today’s verse is also about how this pestilence came across the nation and devoured everything in its path.
This wasn’t the only instance in Israel’s history where there were swarms of locusts. In the book of Exodus, we see swarms of locusts when Pharoah would not let the people of Israel leave Egypt. In 1915 a devastating plague of locusts covered what is modern-day Israel and Syria. The first swarms came in March, in clouds so thick they blocked out the sun. The female locusts immediately began to lay eggs, 100 at a time. Witnesses say that in one square yard, there were 65,000 to 75,000 eggs. In a few weeks, they hatched, and the young locusts resembled large ants. They couldn’t fly yet and got along by hopping. They marched along 400 to 600 feet a day, devouring every speck of vegetation along the way. After two more stages of molting, they became adults who could fly—and the devastation continued. And we will see, this same devastation in the time of tribulation in the book of Revelation which mirrors the time of Exodus.
The middle east is not the only place where locust devastation has occurred. The U.S. had its own devastation back in the 1870s. Here is a link to a great article on U.S. devastation: 1870s Great Plains Locust Devastation. Just this year, we see this same devastation in Sardinia and in Africa.
Have you ever seen the devastation from locusts? If so, can you share your impressions?
Never underestimate the power of the human spirit! There are those who, when burdened with an overwhelming life event come through it stronger and more able to stand against the next crazy life event that could have them crawling on their knees. Then there are others who, when dealt a crushing blow, are devastated to the point of immobility and can’t rise above the situation.
In a health crisis, we never see those who have lost their battle to cancer without a fight. Some retreat into themselves to waste away and die with their family and friends dismayed they wouldn’t fight to live…not only for their family and friends but for themselves. Some give up when their friends and family never wanted them to give up. Others fight until their last breath. Even though they lose the battle, they have fought. Even through death, they have risen above their circumstances. If you’re suffering from cancer, fight the good fight, be strong, and give yourself and your family hope!
But what about the kids who rise above the bullying? Why don’t we hear about those kids? Today I watched a video of an 11-year-old kid who took free violin lessons because the kids at school bullied him because he had cancer. Kids can be cruel and merciless. They have no filters or have not been taught any filters. But this boy made my heart sing. He appeared on America’s Got Talent and blew everyone away with his violin playing. He made it to the television show. What an example of how the human spirit can overcome. This boy chose music to overcome his heartache over being bullied. Other’s may choose sports or some other positive way to overcome.
What about when a person has lost every possession to a hurricane, tornado, or flooding? Does the person retreat to a homeless shelter never to be heard from again or does he take action and rebuild his home and his life?
Several years ago, my 61-year-old husband lost his job. I was afraid at first then I remembered God had it all in the palm of His hand. I told my husband we’d pray about it and let God lead us. And lead us, He did. My husband got a job offer not three weeks later. To say it was a miracle is an understatement. Who hires a 61-year-old man who is almost ready to retire in a few years? God can do anything, even heal the sick and restore a home.