How Does God Restore Your Wasted Years?

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you” Joel 2:25.

This passage out of the book of Joel describes the judgment God brought upon his people because of their sin. To read the whole account, click here.

Even though this chapter is mainly about God’s judgement, I think it also gives an awesome insight into the love of God. These people suffered the plague of the locusts because of their own sin. Our verse at the top of this post says the locusts were “my great army that I sent among you”.

Also, the fact that they were called to repentance and fasting in an effort to stave off further judgment is evidence of this (Joel 2:12, 13). This judgement was clearly God’s doing.

God Will Restore the Years the Locusts Have Eaten

But here’s the incredible part. The Lord didn’t owe these people anything for the consequences they suffered for their sin. Every miserable thing they went through was just what they deserved for their waywardness.

And yet, if they would repent of their sins and turn back to the Lord, God would not merely halt the judgment. He would not only put an end to the devastation.

But God would even restore the years. This means He would pay them back the price they paid for their sin. And, the fact is, they paid a dear price.

“The land is like the garden of Eden before them [the locusts], but behind them a desolate wilderness, and nothing escapes them” 2:3. But, God said He would repay them if they repented. He would restore the years the locusts had eaten.

You Will No Longer Go Hungry

I believe one way the Lord pays us back for the suffering caused by our sin is this: we come away from it with lessons and stories we can use to help others.

So, in addition to having our needs met and no longer going hungry (you will have plenty to eat until you are full, 2:26), we will be able to help others with the hard -won lessons we’ve learned.

And nothing is more fulfilling than to be a blessing to someone else.

I believe this is the same principle as that of plunder. Plunder represents great wealth, riches and treasure. When you do battle with your sin and overcome it, there is a great reward. There is plunder. But you must engage in a battle to get it.

When you go to war, you risk life and limb and give up a portion of your life. But, when you gain victory over your enemy, the rewards are sweet. Following is an excerpt from jesusway4you.com that might shed light on the practice of plundering in ancient times.

 “In Bible times, plundering was the legitimate and expected confiscation of personal property. . . following a military victory. When the fighting ended, the victors gathered and inventoried the goods (2 Chron 20:25). Items on the list included. . . animals, household goods, food, clothing, and various forms of jewelry made from precious metals.”

The Lord compensates us for the misery our own sin brings upon us. He will restore the years the locusts have eaten. One thing you gain from your battle is compassion and wisdom to help someone else with the same problem.

And of course, all pain, whether physical or emotional, and whether inflicted by someone else or us has immense potential. It has the power to transform us in a way nothing else can.

Even the Prodigal Son was Paid Back

You can also see this principle with the prodigal son. To read the parable, click here. His rebellion did cost him his inheritance.

But, he also gained some things his faithful older brother never did. He got to have a party with his friends and the fattened calf. He also got the best robe.

There could be only one “best robe”. And the rebellious prodigal got it once he came to his senses and repented. I think this represents a measure of “repayment” for the price he paid for his sin.

But this passage in Joel seems to go ever farther. It suggests God’s people would be paid back in full for the price they paid for their sin.

I know you’re disappointed, but I don’t have any other posts about locusts in the Bible. But, to read another post similar to How Does God Restore Your Wasted Years, see Jesus and Peter are Still Tight.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2022-2023 Anita Wood