Danny Hickman

"The beast of the field" didn't sin and cause the locusts to attack, so why are they being punished? Field animals don't repent and humble themselves. They are collateral damage.

I've read on this site where people have accused God of being too harsh and insensitive. Like when he destroyed the inhabitants of Earth during the Genesis 6-8 flood. Some people say the animals were treated unjustly. (some people will stretch the bounds of logical thinking to be critical of the Lord). Again, they were collateral damage. They are our responsibility; we are supposed to feel sorrow for them when we cause them to hurt. We lose an important resource when we don't exercise good judgment for ourselves as well as for the animal kingdom.

Joel is saying something much deeper in spiritual value than the loss the nation of Israel suffered from locusts devouring their crops.

If we view our sin as the cause of the loss of our worldly goods, and that's all, the message of repentance will be lost on us. We won't get it no matter how much we cry and wail.

When Adam and Eve sinned they were expelled from the garden, but the real loss was their close relationship with the Father of their lives. If they still walked and talked with him in their new abode, they would have only had to relocate. They lost their clothing (covering).

But even the beast of the field (the unsaved sinner) longs for God when the brook dries up and there's no water to drink. God knows how to bring us around!

October 14 2022 • Report