Prophecy

The Growth of the Locust

by Terry Barlow
03/18/15
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    There are a couple of verses referring to the process of judgment in the first and second chapters of the short book of the prophet Joel in the Old Testament that at first glance seem to refer to several species of insects. A closer look reveals that these creatures may in fact be various developmental stages of one species, the locust of that region. Why does that even matter? Because it better reflects how one stage of judgment grows out of or builds upon the previous one, whether it be in an individuals life, or in the life of a nation. “that which the palmerworm has left has the locust eaten; and that which the locust has left has the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm has left has the caterpillar eaten.” (Chapter 1, verse 4)  This is a picture of the most thorough and complete judgement. 

  The immediate application of this verse concerns the judgment and destruction of Judah and Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, as it was revealed to Joel. Yet in the next chapter, after the prophecy broadens to include or intimate the day of the Lord in a future time, comes a reference to an eventual restoration. “And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.” Chapter 2, verse 25) It is revealing to examine the actual four Hebrew words used in the progression of judgment and destruction that Yahweh God shows Joel. The palmerworm stage or first stage is translated from the word “gazam” which means the “gnawer’ and can refer to a little gnawing of conscience or small erosion of liberty.

  The next stage is the locust stage and is translated from the Hebrew word “arbeh” which means “swarmer”. The conscience, even collectively, is now beginning to be overwhelmed with these gnawings and erosions as they multiply, though the creature itself developmentally is still small and in its first skin without legs or wings.

  The third of these successive sages of judgment is the cankerworm stage which is translated from the Hebrew “yelek” or the “devourer.” The creature has now shed its first skin and grown little wings so it can leap a little but not fly. It can now cover significantly more territory and real noticeable destruction is now beginning to take place. Time is beginning to be wasted in great chunks on frivolous pastimes, if not outright wicked ones.  (Remember that Joel says later that "years" will be restored.)

   The stage has now been set for the final or caterpillar phase, translated from the Hebrew word “hasil” or the “consumer.” This is where America finds itself today. The locust has fully matured and is equipped with long wings for fast flight and legs that enable it to completely sweep great tracts of territory and consume all that lays before it. (Remarkably like what is happening through ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and now beginning in other countries as I write) Though the frivolity continues, the wickedness is now more brazen, shameless and without disguise. It is no accident that the English word “consumer” also has a central place of importance in the plague of materialism and pleasure-oriented consumerism that devours our hours and that helps provoke divine judgment and its accompanying destruction.

   Thank God for the restoration foreseen by Joel in chapters 2 and 3 of his book. We don’t know exactly what must come before that or what form the judgment will take. But what we do know is that restoration follows loss, and that between here where we are and there where we will be must come a lot of honest confession of our idolatries and repentance, and a genuine deep-felt cry for mercy for ourselves and our nation, and our brothers and sisters in serious danger.