The Blackbirds and the Beetles

From: Messages of God's Love: 1977

Narrator: Chris Genthree

• 1 min. read • grade level: 7

In Hollister, California some years ago a farmer discovered that the dreaded army beetles had settled in one of his fields. He was sure that in a matter of hours his whole farm would be eaten bare, and he was filled with despair.

Then his little daughter, Joanne, spoke up.

“Daddy,” she said, “Why don’t you ask God to keep His promise and drive the beetles away?”

Together they knelt in prayer, and earnestly claimed God’s promise: “Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing... and I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground.” (Malachi 3:10, 11¹⁰Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. ¹¹And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:10‑11).)

Getting up from their knees they saw a flock of blackbirds alighting on the field where the beetles were already at work. More blackbirds came and still more! The sky seemed filled with them. The birds all landed on the ground and remained until there wasn’t a beetle left. Then they flew away.

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” (Psalms 50:15¹⁵And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15).)

ML-04/17/1977

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