Topical Bible: Insects: Locust

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Biblical References and Description:

Locusts are mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible, often symbolizing destruction and divine judgment. These insects are part of the grasshopper family and are known for their ability to form large swarms that can devastate crops and vegetation. In the biblical context, locusts are frequently associated with plagues and are seen as instruments of God's judgment.

One of the most notable references to locusts is found in the Book of Exodus, where they are the eighth plague that God sends upon Egypt. In Exodus 10:12-15 , the Lord instructs Moses to stretch out his hand over Egypt so that locusts will swarm over the land and consume everything left after the hail. The passage describes the locusts as covering the ground until it was black and consuming all the plants and fruit, leaving nothing green in Egypt.

In the Book of Joel, locusts are depicted as a metaphor for an invading army and a call to repentance. Joel 1:4 states, "What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten." This vivid imagery underscores the totality of destruction that locusts can bring, serving as a warning to the people of Israel to turn back to God.

The New Testament also references locusts, notably in the Book of Revelation. In Revelation 9:3-7 , locusts emerge from the smoke of the Abyss, described as having the power of scorpions. These locusts are not ordinary insects but are part of a vision of apocalyptic judgment, symbolizing the torment that will befall those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

Cultural and Theological Significance:

In biblical times, locusts were a well-known threat to agriculture and food security. Their ability to consume vast amounts of vegetation in a short period made them a symbol of devastation and famine. Theologically, locusts are often seen as agents of divine retribution, used by God to punish nations and call His people to repentance.

The use of locusts in biblical narratives serves to remind believers of God's sovereignty and the consequences of disobedience. The plagues in Egypt, including the plague of locusts, demonstrate God's power over creation and His ability to intervene in human affairs. Similarly, the prophetic imagery in Joel and Revelation highlights the seriousness of sin and the need for repentance and faithfulness to God.

Dietary Laws and Locusts:

Interestingly, locusts are one of the few insects considered clean and permissible to eat according to Levitical law. Leviticus 11:22 lists locusts among the insects that may be consumed: "Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper." This exception underscores the practical aspect of locusts as a food source in times of scarcity, despite their destructive potential.

Conclusion:

The biblical portrayal of locusts is multifaceted, encompassing themes of judgment, repentance, and divine sovereignty. As both a literal and symbolic element in Scripture, locusts serve as a powerful reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of remaining faithful to His commandments.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 10:12,13
And the LORD said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up on the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail has left.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Locust-Swarms
... which the swarms of insects had done; such as had never been in his days, nor in
the days of his fathers. What the palmer worm had left, the locust had eaten ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xx the locust-swarms.htm

A Cultivated Conservative Friend of Mine once Exhibited Great ...
... that this mere glorification of society as it is in the social insects is a ... than
the house, the bees are destroying their captors; what the locust hath left ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 42 a cultivated conservative.htm

Of the Three Woe Trumpets.
... Wonderful A locust scorpion ... of Egypt." But our locusts afflicted the very men, and
from hence it is apparent that they were not of the genus of insects, that is ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the three woe trumpets.htm

Death.
... of animals which roam among them, and the millions of millions of insects which
buzz ... the springtides of the Red sea; and He took also the locust-swarms, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xviii death.htm

The Clean and the Unclean
... There are insects among the flowers; now every creeping thing, and every insect,
except the locust, was unclean to the Jew. Everywhere ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/the clean and the unclean.htm

At the Well
... Half-green stubble, hail-mown and locust-eaten, showed where a wheat-field had ... his
teeth set, his hand gripping the pike, till the insects, reassured, began to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxxvii at the well.htm

The Struggle for the Life of Others
... the date and the raisin, the banana and the bread-fruit, the locust and the ... To meet
the case of insects which love the dusk, many flowers are coloured white ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter vii the struggle for.htm

Little Sins
... The locust is but a little thing ... of thy little sins; and the rock which is to wreck
thy barque, may have been made by daily working of the coral insects of thy ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/little sins.htm

The High Woods
... 133j} (oak); that, larger than all you have seen yet, a Locust; {133k} that a ... which,
he will tell you, are all but incorruptible, defying weather and insects. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter vii the high woods.htm

Naparima and Montserrat
... A certain Locust-tree and a Ceiba were mentioned. ... how birds can protect their nestlings
against ants; for so large is the number of these insects in our climes ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter x naparima and montserrat.htm