God’s Healing Power
God can redeem any situation! Regardless of the depth and breath and height and width of any personal adversity and private suffering, if we resist depression and bitterness by humbly seeking divine assistance and guidance, we will experience Almighty God's mysterious and miraculous power. God redeems our pain and suffering. He utilizes misfortune and challenge to transform our character. In Joel 2:20, the Lord reassures His people as they suffer the debilitating hardships of a protracted famine. "I will repay what the locusts have eaten."
The locusts of time and misfortune appear to consume completely our investments of finances, emotions, talents and other significant resources. After the loss of a longstanding relationship, it is very hard to move on with your life. You cannot recoup the time, arguably the most precious commodity in life. What would you suggest to someone who painstakingly gives eight years of sweat equity to a business that still fails? Consider an athlete who proverbially puts all of his eggs into one basket with grand dreams of competing professionally. He ignores his educational opportunities but does not achieve this lifelong goal. He must start over and rebuild his life toward some other meaningful endeavor. In all of these scenarios, a person can become a stronger internal individual if he learns from these challenges. Rather than robbing the foregoing persons of time and resources, these experiences eventually equate with an investment for future dividends.
Truly, no one knowingly would commit to a circumstance that absorbs an incredible amount of personal and professional resources but results in a vocational setback. You understandably would seek to avoid this unnecessary detour on the road of life. As it relates to faith, you expect Almighty God would assist you in avoiding such a wholesale waste of divine gifts and natural abilities He bestows. If you have ever been on the losing end of unrequited love, you undoubtedly recognize the pain and agony of giving selflessly to a person and relationship that fails to appreciate you let alone reciprocate your feelings and commitment. Were you to foresee this eventuality, you would cut your losses and proceed to a more worthwhile investment of your time and emotions. A major frustration is your inability to recoup your time. Yet, Joel reminds us of God's bold and enduring promise to restore the years that the locusts of confusion, insincerity, indifference and adversity have consumed.
During the time of Joel's ministry in Israel, famines posed perennial threats to the nation's livelihood as a meager harvest could result in the loss of countless lives. Compounding this ecological fear in good years are swarms of locusts and other pests. In a recent locust infestation which threatens that year's harvest, Joel sees Almighty God's handiwork as it relates to exhorting the people about genuine spirituality and righteousness. The incalculable damage the locusts inflict upon the Israelites is due punishment for their sin and transgression against God's holy character and faithful provision.
In the period of history in which Joel lived, the Israelites were heavily dependent upon the land for annual subsistence. Frighteningly, the land yielded just enough food for survival. The people could not afford a bad crop. An insufficient harvest literally meant the potential loss of life. You can imagine the threat to an average farmer's livelihood. Conceivably, the nation experiences wholesale anxiety particularly during meals as individuals and families wonder whether they will eat as comfortably in the future. Thus, a locust infestation practically meant the threat of loss of many lives. The prophet admonishes the people about their sin and offenses. Arguably, they will receive the just consequences of their choices. After delivering this righteous judgment, the prophet ends his pronouncement with a word of encouragement. He empowers them with this enduring verse. God will restore what the plague of locusts has eaten. It does not matter how extensive the damage and devastation. He repays what was loss.
In the period of history in which Joel lived, the Israelites were heavily dependent upon the land for annual subsistence. Frighteningly, the land yielded just enough food for survival. The people could not afford a bad crop. An insufficient harvest literally meant the potential loss of life. You can imagine the threat to an average farmer's livelihood. Conceivably, the nation experiences wholesale anxiety particularly during meals as individuals and families wonder whether they will eat as comfortably in the future. Thus, a locust infestation practically meant the threat of loss of many lives. The prophet admonishes the people about their sin and offenses. Arguably, they will receive the just consequences of their choices. After delivering this righteous judgment, the prophet ends his pronouncement with a word of encouragement. He empowers them with this enduring verse. God will restore what the plague of locusts has eaten. It does not matter how extensive the damage and devastation. He repays what was loss.
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