2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people...then I will hear from heaven...”
2 Chronicles 7:13, “...if I command the locusts to devour the land...”
In verse 13, God offers a litany of circumstances that would warrant His intervention. In this text, the second is, “if I command the locusts to devour the land...”
In Joel 2:1, the people of God were experiencing an invasion of locusts. The prophet Joel saw this as punishment for the disobedience and sin of the nation of Judah. He saw it as a literal occurrence for a spiritual deficiency. The locusts were very real and had a very real consequence on the lives of the people.
Joel refers to 4 types of this plague, locust, the palmerworm, the cankerworm, and caterpillar. The Hebrew words mean shearer, swarmer, lapper, and devourer. They literally destroyed the vegetation and grains preventing the function of life and worship. No fruit, no corn, no wheat, no figs, pomegranate, palm tree, or apple. No meat offering and no drink offering.
This calamity had a devastating effect on their daily lives. It affected both their livelihood and worship. It changed their way of life.
Like Joel’s plague, evil forces have invaded our land in much the same way. These evil forces are anti-God and anti-Christ. They have manifested themselves through political entities by deception, hated, greed and discrimination. The powerful are intent to force their agenda and control the less powerful. Like Joel’s plague, these evil forces move with impunity throughout the land leaving total destruction in their wake. They exhibit no fear of punishment, harm, or loss. Wave after wave continues to attack the very foundation of our way of life! Yet, God has promised, “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 Chronicles 7:14.
Are we willing to do our part so God can do His part? Seeking God’s Intervention!
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