Locusts and rain

I've been going through Joel in my Quiet Time lately, and received a great reminder about God's sovereignty.

Joel begins by describing a devastating invasion of locusts that plagued Israel, resulting in the loss of all the crops for a couple of years. Over thousands of years, that region has suffered several locust invasions, including a particularly catastrophic invasion as recently as 1915. Joel describes the invading hordes of locusts as an "army" that destroys everything in sight ... and then the second wave comes and destroys more, and then the third, and then the fourth! Interestingly, one of the gravest tragedies is that a lack of crops means nothing for the offering in the temple.

But the locusts are not just a "natural phenomenon." They were sent by God. Joel describes the army as God's army who march according to His commands. God sent the locusts because of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness to the covenant. But it was not just for punishment - it was a passionate plea for Israel to repent and return. His purpose was to discipline as a parent so that they would come back to Him.

Joel also describes Israel after God sends the rains and the crops begin to grow again, even into great abundance. God forgives and restores, and showers Old Covenant blessings on His Old Covenant people. Just as they lamented not being able to bring offerings to the temple during the lean years, they rejoice that now they can bring offerings in abundance when the bumper crops come in.

We moderns don't often credit God for the rains which bring the crops, which in turn brings abundance. We can hold the odd opinion that God did send the rains back then, but somehow God modernized along with mankind and now leaves all the rain to natural processes. (Or, we just question that God ever sent rain at all, even in the Old Testament.) We are even more reticent to give God "credit" for the locusts. We don't like the idea of Him disciplining or punishing us, because we live under grace. Strangely, we're slightly more willing to give Him credit for rain than locusts - we can give Him credit for the good stuff, but not for the bad stuff, right?

But, the locusts weren't really "bad stuff" in Joel. Yes, it was horrible for the people - a plague like they've never seen before. But it was for their good. God doesn't delight in the necessity of sending locusts, but He sent them because of the good He wanted to cause. Joel easily and freely gives God credit for the locusts because God 0nly had Israel's good in mind.

I believe God sends the rain and the locusts. I don't assume that locusts automatically mean that we have sinned and God is directly punishing us - that clearly is a feature of the Old Covenant in particular. However, I cannot believe that God is less sovereign over the elements as He used to be. I believe He controls everything, and that He does so with a purpose of good. And I must believe that even locusts are sent our way for our good - perhaps in ways we can't even fathom right away.

But this does not stop with literal locusts. At various times in our lives, we have "locusts" - an invasion into our lives that seems to be more about destruction than anything else. If God is as sovereign now as He "used to be," then those locusts in your life are no less random than in Joel's day. The are part of His purpose for good.

What does Joel tell the Israelites to do in response to the locusts? Cry out! Weep! Turn to God! That's the right response to locusts. Cry out! It hurts. Weep! It's sad. Turn to God! That's all He ever wants from us, anyway. Don't pretend to understand why the locusts have come, but know that the right response to locusts is to cry out and weep and turn to your God for comfort and help.

God brings both the locusts and the rain.