“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.” -Joel 2:25
When God gives a promise of restoration in the Bible, you can consider that a done deal. His promises are tried and true. The scriptures make sure it’s very clear, not just some of God’s promises, but all of His promises are this way (2 Cor 1:20; Num 23:19). So when God says that He will bring total restoration, then be in total expectation!
What are cankerworms? What are palmerworms? Also, what does a caterpillar have to do with this event? One dictionary referred to the insects as being various types of locusts in their early stages. You probably thought caterpillars only were related to butterflies. Not so! The insects in this text fit under a general class of devouring locusts.
Let’s begin with the locust itself, which is found to be grasshopper-like. It’s the hopping locust also known as the swarming locusts, indicating the characteristic of rapid onslaught. The cankerworm is known as the crawling and licking type. The caterpillar is translated in this verse as being a ravager, consuming, and having a stripping nature. The palmerworm is noted as being the gnawer or the chewing locust. When this invasion of insects hit the farmland of Judah, it left total devastation and destruction. The caterpillar had literally stripped the bark off the fig trees (Joel 1:4-13; 14-20). After this plague occurred, God sent Joel to prophecy to the Jews hope and restoration (Joel 1:1-2; 2:25-27). The Jews were in disobedience and God wanted them to repent. So after the actual locust invasion, Joel warned them that if they didn’t repent, they would receive more judgment even worse than the plague that they had just experienced. So this prophecy was also warning them to get it together and get it right.
Saints, when the storms of life come (Matt 7:24-27; Psa 34:19), whether it is due to your disobedience or just attacks of the enemy, we know we have a blessed hope. This hope is that God is able to restore to you far above what you could ever possibly imagine (Eph 3:20). When you repent and obey, if you were looked over or skipped over for recognition or a promotion, fret not (Psa 37:1-2; 42:5: 30:1). If like Job, the enemy has stripped you of everything, licked and left you dry, read the end of Job’s story (Job 42:12-17). If a crisis swarms upon you rapidly and consumes your strength, keep your eyes on Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of your faith (Heb 12:2). It’s not over! If your emotions have been chewed up from mistreatment and disappointments, the Lord will bring healing (Psa 30:2, Gen 45:1-5, 7-8). If you feel that you won’t escape the affects that the locusts may have had in your life, think again. God will restore to you the years of your life that the locusts thought they had eaten! So be encouraged, He loves you and there will be a great escape from the locusts!
Prayer:
“Father, I thank you for loving me so much that there is no pit of despair so deep that You can’t deliver me from. You are a mighty and powerful and wise God! You are able to heal my deepest wounds. There is no weapon formed through the enemy’s plagues or invasions that will prevail against me! Thank you for being my God who will restore and bring Your promises to pass in my life! In Jesus Name, Amen!”
