Locust trivia: Did you know a square-kilometre swarm of locusts can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people! https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/locusts-africa-hunger-famine-covid-19/
Joel has witnessed the terror in the land that was caused by a host of locusts and a severe drought. He uses this destruction to warn of even more calamity caused by a terrible “army” of the Lord. He portrays the army of locusts as a punishment from God for the sins of Israel at that time. There is also a sense in which this is a prophesy of the future, even reaching to the millennial age. He predicts these things will happen “in the day of the Lord.”
In the Bible we find two plagues of locusts. The first was one of the plagues on Egypt recorded in Exodus. The second is recorded here in Joel. With that in mind come with me to the plague of locusts in Africa 2020. Call me a sceptic regarding this headline: “East Africa’s plague of locusts and the bizarre climate, http://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/locust–plague-climate-science-east-africa
“A plague of locusts has descended on East Africa. Climate change may be to blame. Human activity made an ocean circulation pattern misbehave-triggering a weird confluence of events that has caused the infestations.” Yeah, just blame the methane from the camels in Egypt and Israel!
Chapter 1. This message is to “elders,” “generations of children,” and “drunkards.” After describing the destruction caused by the locust swarms, verse 13 and 14, he calls for mourning, fasting, and crying out to God in the house of the Lord.
Chapter 2 again describes the destruction that is coming. 12-17 The only possibility of escape is to confess and repent. Note verse 13 shows this repentance must be real – rend your heart and not your garments. Verse 14 raises an interesting question. Does God change his mind? Who knows? He may turn and have pity. I don’t think I could pray in faith if I did not believe it might change circumstances that result in God “changing his mind.” Perhaps it is more descriptive if we say he will change his timing for certain events. There are events such as the birth of Christ which are said to happen “when the fullness of time” comes that would be different from a particular length of time. Some prophesies, however, such as Daniel’s that are very precise regarding the length of time. For example, when God said the Israelites would in Babylon seventy years, he was speaking of a definite length of time. Verse 17 How the priests should intercede with God in behalf of the people. What will the nations say if you don’t spare your people? This appeal is made pleading with God to bring honor to His own name. 2:18-27 The Lord’s answer—contains some sweet words from the Lord. Relish his love words to Israel. These are the same words/promises He makes to you under the new covenant. Pause and savor verses 21, 25-26, & 32
2: 28-29 Joel’s prophesy of the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2.
Chapters 3 and 4 are prophesies not yet fulfilled. I’m not knowledgeable enough to attempt helping you out here.
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Found picture on free images but I have forgotten which website. Sorry.
Sweet aroma 
I think God can change his mind about certain things especially in response to our disobedience (or obedience), although I know there are some who don’t agree with that. Also I think God does have the ability to not change his mind about other things such as keeping a covenant with us. He is always faithful. That is an amazing ability. I agree with you that the connection between locusts and climate change sounds suspicious.
Yesterday was the birthday of Bhagwan Sri Krishna, celebrated as Janmashtami in Hinduism. For Hindus world over, Sri Krishna is the complete incarnation of Bhagwan (God) in human form in this world.
In his own word, whenever there is a peril to Dharma ( the word Dharma doesn’t have an equivalent translation in English though many try to equate it to religion. Dharma is much more broader in the sense that it is a way of life where righteousness prevail in the way one leads his or her life shunning evil), He will come again and rid the world of all evil.
We may have something in common there.
Underestimate ‘climate change’ at your own peril. I don’t think any prophet has barred people from education.
I sort of understand. Thanks. My first problem of being weighted according to good and evil, is having a standard by which to determine that. The Bible has standards but there are a lot of things that I can’t judge. God can. Yes, I do ridicule most of the climate change panic. I don’t doubt that there is climate change, just as we have changed from the ice age, but very little has to do with the action of man, that man cannot cope with. He might be wise to move away from his house on the beach. I’ll have to have a rant on that some day. The “panickers” are sure ranting – and taking in the money by armsful I image. Don’t really know. But I would bet there is more in Biden’s Trillions for climate control than for cancer, heart, diabetes, even covid! Would I lose that bet? You research; I don’t want to. 😀
You will lose the bet, most probably. That doesn’t matter.
What matters is that humans has it in their control to at least partially reverse the effects of climate change. Naysayers may not believe in the science, just like the school teacher refusing to get vaccinated and then infecting half his students with Covid.
Sad about the teacher infecting class. Big news. I wonder if any of the children got covid. Do you know? Do children who get the covid shot, get infected? I don’t know. I do know the system wants to give shots to children. What are the shots if not covid? I believe in vaccine for many reasons, if they build immunities, but covid vax does not build immunities. I wish we could be told the truth on both sides. Right now it is “take the vax, we’ll find out about effects later.” Yes, right.
Oneta, Covid vaccine is still not given yo children inder twelve.
Yes, Covid vaccine saves lives. Only hypocrites believe otherwise.
Your hero had taken it before leaving the people’s house.
I don’t know if any of the children had serious complications but each one of the infected children became carriers and risked infecting their families and friends. I am surprised you are trying to defend the teacher.
Come off it! I said nothing in defense of the teacher. President Trump took the shot and advises everyone to take the shot. So much for your talk about those of who follow him blindly. I asked legitimate questions; if you have none, you ought to. Over and out. 😀
I can read your mind between the lines😂
Climate change is simply one derisive way among many to deny that the whole world has slipped from due respect for the absolute HOLINESS of GOD. and the ONE Path that all humankind can travel irrespective of cultural, religious persuasions, racial or other differences. This is a path of LIGHT. There is. no darkness and no human could ever travel without confession and a knowledge of forgiveness. THE LIGHT would sizzle them up. An anti covid shot will not make all thinks right NOW. A return to a cleansing of the human heart from ALL darkness will and must happen. JOEL knew it. Daniel knew it. Those watching with open eyes know it too. Thank you for post Oneta.
I have lived through the panic of climate cooling and climate warming. When neither panned out, it became climate change. That way anything will do. Not true science in my book. Just a change of terminology to describe normal cycles through the years.
I love the book of Joel. And I really appreciate your musings about ‘changing of mind’ possibly being more a ‘changing of timing’, as we do see this a lot throughout the Bible when people repent. Great job on this! Looking forward to the next one. 🙂
A lot of these matters are covered in the “if you do” and “if you don’t” covenants of God. The Bible is full of them. Thanks for the comment.