Joel 2:25 So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.
It is of note here that God sent the army of locusts and palmerworms against His children. What could be responsible for this? It was because they turned back from following the Lord. You may experience hard times when you shift your gaze from the Lord and follow your ways. God often chastises his children to help them consider their ways and return to Him, the same way we discipline our children to help them learn and do the right things. When God wounds, He heals; when He injures, He binds.
What should be your response if you are experiencing God’s chastisement?
1. Return to the Lord– return to the Lord, and He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. Like the prodigal son, return to your father. His arms are open to welcome you.
2. Remove the accursed thing from your camp– God said he would no longer be with the Israelites until they removed the accursed thing from their camp. So remove that defilement in your life. Joshua 7:12b… Neither will I be with you anymore unless you destroy the accursed from among you.
3. Be ready to obey him– Isaiah 1:19 If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;
4. Call on the name of the Lord– What will be God’s response when you call him? Joel 2:19 The LORD will answer and say to His people, Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.
Our God is a God of restoration. Don’t delay reconciling with Him.
God bless you.
