Invasions by various kinds of locusts are not uncommon in the Middle East. Exod. 10 gives the account of one such which came upon the land of Egypt when Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites depart at the call of God. It was of utmost severity, as it was said: "And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt;... before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such." Exod. 10:1414And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. (Exodus 10:14).
Locust infestations were also known by the Israelites in their own land, and Solomon made mention of them in his prayer at the dedication of the temple. He said to God: "If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence,... locusts or caterpillars;... then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man.. in this house:... then hear Thou from heaven Thy dwelling place." God answered him, saying: "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land,... if My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chron. 6:28-30; 7:13, 1428If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be: 29Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house: 30Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:) (2 Chronicles 6:28‑30)
13If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13‑14).
The latest Palestinian invasion of locusts has been this last winter, which according to Israel's Ministry of Agriculture has been the worst in 43 years. The breeding grounds seemed to be in some neighboring Arab states, so Israel sought their co-operation in attacking them at the source; but this was refused on account of their old animosities. Israel did not, however, follow the pleadings of Solomon, or God's instructions, in such an eventuality. They instead betook themselves to the most modern methods of extermination by mechanized vehicles and crop-dusting airplanes, which according to the Ministry of Agriculture were very successful, so that their crop damage was "the least of any of the invasions." All this bespeaks Israel's resourcefulness on the one hand, and that the day of the Messiah has not yet come, on the other. In His day pests will not ravage the land, nor drought parch it; nor will human ingenuity be necessary against manifestations of the government of God.
A most seasonable word for Israel is to be found in the prophecy of Joel; in fact, it would be well for us to review some of Joel's words in the light of the recent invasion of locusts, and the current world-situation.
Joel, it seems, was one of the earliest of the prophets connected with the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, although it would be difficult to give a date for "The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel." In his day the land of Israel was devastated by hoards of locusts, with resultant scarcity; and the Lord put into Joel's prophecy a warning plea to His earthly people based on such desolation—"Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. That which the palmerworm [or gnawing locust] hath left hath the [swarming] locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm [or licking locust] eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar [or consuming locust] eaten." Joel 1:2-42Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? 3Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. 4That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. (Joel 1:2‑4). (The words in brackets are from Mr. William Kelly; and Mr. J. N. Darby says of these four names, "They are probably different species of locust, or in different stages of growth.")
Joel calls the older men to recall the former times and remember if such a desolation had been wrought in days within their memories. And all the people were asked to take serious note of what had just happened and to tell it to their children, that other generations might fear the Lord. The language used in the first chapter is very descriptive of depredations wrought by hoards of insects—the grape vine is dried up, the fig tree languishes, the pomegranate, palm, and apple trees, with all the trees of the field are withered, while the wheat and barley had perished, and the beasts, herds, and flocks were perplexed because they had no pasture. But from such desolations, which came as a result of God's governmental dealings with His guilty people, the prophet turns to look forward to the future and more severe judgments of God. The present visitation was solemn and called for repentance before God, but worse was to come—the day of the LORD with destruction from the Almighty was on the way (v. 15).
In the second chapter of Joel, the prophet by the Spirit changed from the invasion of locusts to a still more dreadful invasion to come, by what is called "the northern army" in verse 20, and Jehovah's army in verse 11. Ravages by insect invasions will be but small compared with the depredations of the northern army which will come against Israel at the ushering in of the day of the LORD. What a solemn time is coming for the Jews in Palestine! 0 that they would pause and consider when God speaks to them today by drought and by insects and by other dealings from His hand.
The "northern army" is also spoken of as the Assyrian, or that old enemy who occupied territory to the north of Palestine. And at this very time Iraq (in the old Assyrian location) is being wooed by Russia who would gleefully help to set up a foe of Israel on her northern flank. The old names of the former enemies of Israel have almost vanished, but the peoples are still there; and the old names may likely reappear. Many of the old names are found together in Psalm 83 as confederate against Israel: "They have said, Come, let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against Thee: the tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon [incidentally, this name (with slight variation) is now the name of the capital of Jordan], and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tire; Assur [Assyria] also is joined with them." vv. 4-8.
Today almost 2,000,000 Jews are back in their land and have a stable government, but the forerunners of the dreadful scourge are already threatening them. Their foes are numerous, and the Jews are outnumbered more than 40 to 1 by the Arabs alone. 0 that they were wise and would take warning from such events as locust invasions and droughts, and turn to God in repentance!
Joel's description of the "northern" army's invasion of Israel is couched in words descriptive of desolations wrought by locusts: "The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them." Chap. 2:3. And the prophet Isaiah describes the same incursion in these words: "When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report." Chap. 28:18.
At the time of the northern army's invasion of Palestine, the Jews there will be under the leadership of their apostate king (often called antichrist), and through his machinations they will be under a protective covenant with the revived Roman Empire and its wicked head, called in Scripture "the beast." This wicked alliance will promote and protect idolatry and deification of man, even' to the extent of putting an image of the beast in the newly constructed temple, and demanding that worship be given to the beast and his image. On this account, according to Dan. 9, there is going to be a desolator for the Jews in Palestine—"and because of the protection of abominations there shall be a desolator" (v. 27; J.N.D. Trans.). This northern army, Jehovah's army, will be His desolator to accomplish His will against an apostate people in that day. But in the end the desolator will meet his doom from the hand of the LORD, and his army will be routed toward the east.
This latter-day enemy of Israel was also an early day adversary. One has said, "There will be a revival of those Gentile foes of the Jews. It is remarkable too that their final acts will bear the same moral character as their initiatory course. This intimates clearly a divine principle of dealing at the close for the sins of the beginning, because they will repeat their old sins at the end. The same jealousy of Israel, the same determination to exterminate the Jew, the same unbelieving opposition to God's counsels which characterized them at their earliest epochs will also be found in their latest appearance. The circle of their historical unity is made apparent from a moral point of view—the same character of guilt reproduced with God's judgment upon them because of it."
While it is not possible to exactly date Joel's prophecy, it seems that God caused him to write about a recent scourge of locusts and resultant famine, and to write probably just before Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, invaded Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem. At that time 185,000 of his army died in one night by divine intervention after Hezekiah cast himself and his people upon God for deliverance. Sennacherib made an inglorious retreat into his own land, where he was murdered by his own sons. It is characteristic of prophecy to use the present to give features of the future, and to allow some partial fulfillment in advance of the fulfillment of the real purpose of the prophecy. Even the signal defeat of the northern army in Hezekiah's day is likely typical of its resounding overthrow at the time of the end by divine interposition on behalf of His earthly people "when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth" (Isa. 2:1919And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. (Isaiah 2:19)).
While we have turned aside to look at the prophecy of Joel for a little, we should also notice how the divine instruction about the two silver trumpets in Numb. 10 is brought into the prophecy. There were two general uses for the trumpets: 1) to gather the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle, 2) to blow an alarm when they had to meet the enemy in battle. This latter was not for the purpose of summoning warriors, but rather to bring God into the circumstances, for it says: "And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies." v. 9.
In Joel 2:11Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; (Joel 2:1) the alarm provision is called for: "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand." In view of the Assyrian's invasion of Israel, they are to blow an alarm; in other words, they are to call upon God. Crop-dusting airplanes will not cope with the invasion of which locusts are only a type. The deliverance will come, not by military might nor by human ingenuity, but from the LORD.
After that they will be called together before God in a most solemn assembly. "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly." v. 15. They are also to be called upon to rend their hearts, and not their garments, and turn to the LORD their God (Joel 2:1313And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. (Joel 2:13)). A deep work of repentance will take place in the remnant of the Jews that are left at that time, for two-thirds of them will have been cut off during the judgments that fell on them, and the third part will be brought through the fires and purified as silver (see Zech. 13:8, 98And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:8‑9)).
What a solemn day of repentance that will be! They are to sanctify (or set apart to God) a fast, and call a solemn assembly. At that time the priests who minister in the temple are to come out from the temple and take their place with the people, and "weep between the porch and the altar." Zech. 12 gives us more details of Israel's time of repentance. Then God will "be jealous for His land, and pity His people." Joel 2:1818Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. (Joel 2:18).
He will dispose of Israel's enemies for them, and He will then make good all that they have lost by the depredations of hordes of invaders, still using the simile of armies of insects. Instead of great scarcity there will be an abundance of everything—wheat, oil, wine, and the fruit of trees. All that was lost shall be made up to them when He restores the years that the locusts have eaten. Then they shall eat in plenty and praise the name of the LORD their God, and His people shall never be ashamed (vv. 21-27).
But before the days of blessing for God's earthly people, there will be the terrible day of the LORD, for them and for the whole earth. That day is fast approaching, and many things indicate it; but first, He will call all the redeemed of this age to be with Himself and away from the very hour in which the trouble will fall (see Rev. 3:1010Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)).
The call to the Church to be with Christ will likely be heard just before the seven years of trouble begin, the latter half of which, or 31/2 years, will be known as the "great tribulation" (Matt. 24:2121For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21)). During this awful time of trouble, which will close with "the great and dreadful day of the LORD" (Mal. 4:55Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: (Malachi 4:5)), we, as the redeemed of this age, shall be with Christ in glory. Then when He arises to "shake terribly the earth" (Isa. 2:1919And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. (Isaiah 2:19)), He shall come forth with the redeemed from heaven as "the armies which were in heaven" (Rev. 19:1414And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19:14)) follow Him. He shall make His enemies His footstool (Psalm 110:11<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1)), and establish His kingdom on earth. We shall share in His glorious reign in His kingdom, even as He has promised (Rev. 3:2121To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3:21)); although, perhaps more accurately, we shall reign "over the earth" (Rev. 5:1010And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10); J.N.D. Trans.) from a scene of glory displayed over and to the earth. What a bright and blessed prospect is set before us; but the best of all will be to dwell with Him, to see Him as He is, and be fully conformed to Himself (1 John 3:22Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)). May our response be in truth, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20).
Before closing these comments, we will also refer to what Isaiah wrote about how God would use the Assyrian as a rod to chastise His guilty people; but when the rod vaunts itself, He will break the rod:
"O Assyrian, the rod of Mine anger, and the staff in their hand is Mine indignation. I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of My wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? Wherefore it shall come to pass, that, when the Lord hath performed His whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: and my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.... And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth." Isaiah 10:5-15, 205O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. 6I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. 7Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. 8For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? 9Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? 10As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; 11Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? 12Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. 13For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: 14And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. 15Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. (Isaiah 10:5‑15)
20And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. (Isaiah 10:20).