I Will Restore What the Locusts Have Eaten - Part One

I Will Restore What the Locusts Have Eaten

Part One - Joel 2:18-27

Would you like the lost years of your youth and young adulthood back?  Would you like the years that you wasted in unproductive relationships and jobs that did not match your personality and skills set?  The locusts of time have eaten many days of our lives.  Consider the various false starts of your life.  Think of the years of sweat equity in business, school, marriage, family, organizations, service and other worthy causes that did not yield a harvest.  You concur with the characterization of “failure.”  You greatly lament the swarm of locusts: finances, fear, anger, frustration, impatience, apathy, blame, indifference, reputation, resources, doubt, and cynicism.  Calculate the colossal lost of time, talent, treasure and temperament that these locusts consumed over those years.  Possibly, this swarm of emotional, psychological and spiritual locusts continues to consume your potential harvest by eating away meticulously and steadily your belief in Almighty God and yourself.  Each day, you lose countless of amount of money and immeasurable success because you fail to sow seeds of creativity and ingenuity.  However, the immortal words of the prophet, Joel, encourage us that God will restore all that has been lost!

The book of Joel centers upon a plague of locusts which the Lord allows to punish His people.  The opening verses details five types of locusts which can devour viciously the much-needed crops any potential harvests.  The people to whom Joel spoke were dependent primarily upon the land and its yield of crops.  Because of the density of the population in this region, the land produced just enough food.  The lost of a year’s harvest easily threatened a famine.  More unfortunately, ravenous swarms of locusts remain indigenous to Africa, Asia and the Middle East where Joel’s audience resides.  Mostly, their merciless consumption affects sixty countries which equate withy one-fifth of the world’s surface and one-tenth of the world’s population.  More specifically, a desert locust swarm could comprise four hundred and sixty square miles inclusive of forty to eighty million locusts per one-half square mile.  Numerically, a plague of desert locusts potentially totaled eighty to one hundred and sixty million locusts per square mile resulting in a possible minimum of 36,800 million to a total of 73,600 million locusts.  Hence, Joel speaks with the vivid imagery of the sky darkening with a plague of locusts.  Their sheer number covers the canvass of the horizon enroute to a plague.  This vast army of predatory insects consumes 423 million pounds of crops per day.  Arguably, this plague greatly exceeds the damage that any human army, however fierce and formidable, could perpetrate upon an enemy.

Biblical scholars debate the historical verifiability of Joel’s prophecy.  Scarce extra-biblical evidence exists to corroborate independently Joel’s assertions about the plague and its devastation.  Yet, we have the privilege of allegorizes this intriguing passage.  Many of us have experienced plagues in our lives reminiscent of the destruction of the desert locusts.  Perhaps, your recollections of your childhood years do not conjure pleasant and satisfying memories.  Honestly, the average American family does not resemble the Cosby, Brady or Walton families portrayed on television.  Maybe, you were robbed of feelings of love, admiration, affirmation and security due to the incapacities of your parents, siblings and extended family members.  If you grew up in an impoverished environment, you probably have a hard time trusting Almighty God for your daily bread.  You may think that you cannot give to charitable causes because you fear that you will not have enough for your family and yourself.  Tithing is simply out of the question.  Someone with such a background, undoubtedly, watches every penny and fears that the ends of the months will not meet harmoniously.  This type of individual harbors the deeply held anxiety that his or her quality of life and standard of living will not exceed measurably the childhood years. 

I Will Restore What the Locusts Have Eaten - Part Two

I Will Restore What the Locusts Have Eaten

Part Two - Joel 2:18-27

Further, there are those persons for whom the quest for love repeatedly terminated in disappointing and hurtful relationships.  Quite possibly, you may have invested years into relations with people hoping to achieve the ultimate experience of God’s unconditional love as evidenced in time, trust and feelings with people.  The failure of these interactions hurt so deeply because time is something that we can never replace not repay.  What an incredible waste of emotions, money, time and energy!  In response, one may be afraid of other relationships.  Should regret and depression solidify in one’ heart and mind, one may often think about the invaluable lost of one’s time and self in those relationships.  On a good day, one would want that time back.  Nevertheless, this scenario happens in business and one’s attempt to succeed in a given profession.   Failed businesses, bankruptcies, termination and false starts are as hurtful as broken engagements, divorces and relation breakups.  Then, you can always take the wrong side at a fork in the road.  Perhaps, you invest years in a given job, project, specialty, or pursuit to discover that it is not as fulfilling as you originally imagined.  You may obtain a certain level of expertise and a favorable reputation with it.  Yet, if you are not happy, joyous and free, you cannot resist the feeling that you are wasting your time and your abilities as life passes by.  In direct response to this dilemma, Joel offers one of the most encouraging prophecies found in the Bible.  He affirms that God will restore the wasted years!

The great British preacher and revivalist, Charles Spurgeon, spoke of the mystery of God’s handiwork while discoursing upon this text.  He succinctly describes the essence of Joel’s encouraging words to the people.  The locusts did not consume any time; they devour the fruit of years of hard work and toiling.  But, God “has a strange and wonderful way in [He] can give back to you the wasted blessings.”  Almighty God supernaturally and majestically restores “the unripened fruit of years of over which you mourned.  The fruit of wasted years may yet be yours.” 

However, God calls us into a process of discernment, personal development and spiritual growth as a prerequisite for His grand purposes of restoration.  It begins with public and private repentance and fasting.  Practically speaking, repentance means to turn around and go in the opposite direction.  Sin, rebellion and disobedience, all, lead to a dead end road which forces one to make a u-turn.  Likewise, years of unrewarding rewarding investments of time and abilities necessitates a comprehensive analysis of one’s goals and purposes.  A new way of thinking and being becomes necessary.  The old paradigm no longer works.  A fresh outlook reveals previously unseen vistas of possibilities for a productive use of one’s time and talents.  Nonetheless, the humility and willingness to re-evaluate one’s choices and action is the first and non-negotiable step to discovering these latent possibilities for a more fulfilling and rewarding life.

This repentance motivates God to take pity on the people.  Accompanied by a righteous act of fasting, this decision to return to the Lord leads to His relenting of sending judgment upon the people.  The prophet tells them to rend their hearts instead of their clothing.  The usual customs led people to tear their outer garments as a demonstration of their sorrow and horror in the face of calamity.  This outward display of religious piety proved utterly meaningless to Joel, if it were not matched with an internal and genuine desire to change.  Thus, the combination of the sincere repentance and authentic fasting yield the Lord’s gracious bestowal of grain, new wine and oil.  Furthermore, He promises that the people will never again be the objects of scorn or the victims of such treacherous judgment.

I Will Restore What the Locusts Have Eaten - Part Three

I Will Restore What the Locusts Have Eaten

Part Three - Joel 2:18-27

If we are willing to abandon our self-made plans and exchange them for the wisdom and guidance of Almighty God, He will bless us as bountifully as He did Joel’s hearers.  In the wonderful phrase of one biblical commentator, the Lord requires the cessation of “our vain efforts at self-reform.”  It is so easy to try plan after plan after plan when we encounter hardships, disappointments and failures.  The myth of the self-made person deceitfully encourages us to stay the course in the midst of adversity.  In contrast, God lovingly recommends that we develop the spiritual discipline of daily consulting with Him about His “good, pleasing and perfect” will for us.  As our Creator, the Lord knows us better than we know ourselves.  He knows perfectly what will make us happy, joyous and free.  He knows our passions, talents, abilities and interests.  He knows the types of work and activities in which we will find the most fulfillments.  Accordingly, God will lead us in the direction of this abundant and eternal life if we trust Him by following His lead.

Conceivably, a percentage of the wasted years could have been salvaged had we diligently asked God for His daily will for our lives.  In the midst of unfortunate situations, God will grant graciously His guidance to bring about a reversal of fortunes.  As I write, I immediately conjure a memory of a time when I knew that I was making the wring choice in a matter.  I allowed fear to become larger than life itself.  I proceeded in this relationship when every sign that I could see warned me that I was headed for disaster.  Yet, I was afraid that if I let this “opportunity” pass that I would not receive another.  As this choice unfolded in my life, I actually tolerated unacceptable circumstances all the while fearing that if I let go I would be left empty.  I could not have been more wrong!  Years removed from that experience, I can testify that God does indeed restore what the locusts of time have eaten.  If only, I had trusted Him sooner.

Joel expands this remarkable prophecy to include all of nature.  God’s promises of restoration extend to the animals and the open fields which will yield a heretofore immeasurable harvest.  The land shall rejoice and be glad.  Flourishing green pastures await the animals of grazing.  The fig tree and vine will produce untold riches.  Abundant rains will come and wipe out the drought.  Both the fall and spring rains will descend to yield a bountiful harvest.  The former rains ensure the year’s harvest and the latter one prepares the soil for next year’s yield.  Accordingly, the threshing floors overrun with grain and the vats overflow with wine and oil.  These vivid and positive nature images depict spiritual and material blessings of restoration for us.  Although we may sow in tears, the day will dawn when we shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves. 

I Will Restore What the Locusts Have Eaten - Part Four

I Will Restore What the Locusts Have Eaten

Part Four - Joel 2:18-27

In the twenty-third verse, Joel speaks of the gift of “the autumn rain in righteousness.”  That saying describes the bestowal of a teacher of righteousness, one who instructs us about living in right relationship with Almighty God.  This teacher’s lessons and wisdom resemble the torrential downpours of the autumn rains.  For us, he will aid us in finding creativity and ideas that previously eluded us.  His teachings will re-ignite our imaginations.  We will think of ways to better ourselves.  We will not despise the day of small beginnings.  We will take the first step toward a life of inner healing and wholeness which include the merciful restoration of material blessings that lacked fruition before. 

Maya Angelou tells the story of Ms. Annie Johnson who lived in Arkansas in 1903.  Ms. Johnson had to take a new direction in the road of life.  Ms Johnson and her husband decided to separate.  He, a minister, felt called to leave Arkansas and relocate to Oklahoma to further his calling in the gospel ministry.  Ms. Johnson stayed behind with four children.  Having no idea how she would provide for them, she prayed to Almighty God for wisdom and insight.  In His infinite grace, He guided her toward a greater use of her cooking abilities.  Ms. Johnson began to cook for the workers in a mill near her house.  At first, she had few customers because most of the men brought their lunches from home.  Soon, she gained the confidence and patronage of a small percentage of the crew; they, in turn, told their coworkers about her delicious and affordable meals.  In time, her shack became the equivalent of a convenience store which later grew in numbers.  Ms. Johnson’s willingness to take a “U-turn” in the road of life enabled her to receive the financial and material blessings of God’s promise to restore the lost years.  I imagine that she looked back on those initial hard times with amazement at the Lord’s faithfulness and humor at her anxiety.

Joel concludes this grand prophecy with an incredible promise that extends beyond the finite realms of monetary substance.  He says that those persons who look to the Lord and heed His promises shall not be put to shame.  One biblical commentator posits a tripartite blessing for such persons.  First, they shall not be disregarded by Almighty God.  He will answer assuredly their prayers.  Second, they will not be disappointed.  Their expectations will be fulfilled.  Third, God will not let the circumstances of their lives debase them.  These believers have the full assurance of God’s unfailing love, unquestionable faithfulness and unending grace.  Summarily, God will restore what the locusts have eaten.