He gave their crops to the grasshopper, their produce to the locust. (Ps. 78:46)
ELMON WAS ALMOST READY to give his life to Christ. “Umfundisi Jim, the Old Testament book of Joel talks about an invasion of locusts. I find it hard to believe that this could have actually happened. It seems to be a make-believe story. Prove this could have really taken place, and I will become a Christian!”
At first only a handful of them came into the city during the early hours of the morning. It seemed as if they were a scouting party, coming to spy out the land. No one paid much attention to them because they were so few in number. However, by noon the invaders were boldly marching into the city of Bulawayo. I had read about locust infestations, but I had never been an eyewitness to them. This all changed in 1995. From a distance, what I saw looked like a large approaching storm cloud. By five in the afternoon, thousands of locusts had converged in the city, chomping away at whatever vegetation they encountered. Although they didn’t stay long—perhaps two hours—by the time they left, the place looked like a wasteland.
Elmon came to see me. “I did not realize that when I asked for proof that God would send a whole army of locusts! What else can I do but believe!”
Be careful how you test God—He may answer your doubts with proof!
Jim Lo is the author of Connect with God: The Purpose of Prayer (Wesleyan Publishing House) and the dean of chapel at Indiana Wesleyan University.
