Joel 1:4 What the gnawing locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; and what the swarming locust has left, the creeping locust has eaten; and what the creeping locust has left, the stripping locust has eaten.
Yes, the context of Joel 1 is the land of Israel. The prophet does offer a glimpse into the future of the Promised Land. There are an estimated 80-90 species of locusts in the Middle East per Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Locust plagues are a sign of the end of days per Joel.
Middle East, February 2020: Plagues of locusts are gaining steam and growing across the region in the countries of Pakistan, Oman, Yemen, Ethiopia, Kenya, Eritrea and Djibouti.
These are reported to be the most devastating swarms in over 70 years. The region is already on alert for food needs & now locusts have invaded.
Officials in Kenya have resorted to using pesticides from airplanes, machine guns, tear gas, shouting and banging on drums. Officials state they are having a hard time addressing the locusts because the area is complicated by regional wars and conflicts.
2019 was a wet year for eastern Africa due to tropical cyclones. Officials are very concerned because the timing of the swarm is prior to entering the wet seasons in the region. With increased water and warm temperatures, experts warn the swarms could expand 500 fold… Allegedly.
For all the readers and followers in India, be on alert for a possible June arrival.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/africas-worst-locust-plague-in-decades-threatens-millions-11580475600
James Hall@hallaboutafricaWorst locust invasion to hit East Africa in 25 years grounds Ethiopia Airlines jet, which was a spattered mess with damaged engines after flying through swarm. Crops hit hard, with UN teams warning of food shortages. Locusts number 40million per sq km in some parts of East Africa
António Guterres✔@antonioguterresDesert locusts are extremely dangerous. Triggered by the climate crisis, the outbreak is making the dire food security situation in East Africa even worse.@UNCERF and @FAO are providing resources and supporting efforts to help manage and contain the situation. https://twitter.com/un/status/1220663031975141376 …
United Nations✔@UNThere is increasing concern about a desert locust outbreak, which is threatening devastation in East Africa.
A small swarm of locusts can consume the equivalent of food for 35,000 people in just one day.
More facts from @FAO. https://buff.ly/30COAap
In mean time, chow down. Locusts are kosher.
Leviticus 11:22 These of them you may eat: the locust in its kinds, and the devastating locust in its kinds, and the cricket in its kinds, and the grasshopper in its kinds.
The swarms of locusts are not in Israel as the prophet Joel promises. The experts can not excuse this away, locust plagues are a sign of our current times.
The question is… are we entering into the time Joel prophesied???
