John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. (Mt 3:4)
When we are introduced to John the baptist, we are given a few choice details about this prophetic man. He dressed like Elijah (2Ki 1:8); this in itself is highly significant. And we are told what he ate. Why? Unless it is also significant.
Locusts are the devourers; in Exodus 10 and Joel 1, we see they are brought as a judgement, where the best of the land is devoured. Yet John devoured the devourers. It is fitting, as God delights to turn the oppression of his people on its head. They are to take captivity captive, to rule over those who subjected them, and defeat the enemy with his own weapons.
Wild honey is also significant in this respect, as it is reminiscent of Sampson's riddle, when he found wild honey inside the carcass of a lion. The eater is eaten; the devourer has been devoured!
"Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet." (Jdg 14:14)
The Church, in the spirit and power of Elijah, is not to be subjected to any power, but it will overcome all opposition, and prepare the way for the Lord's coming.
3 comments:
wow! that was very insightful.
Of course the other explantion of John's diet was that he was taking part in "I'm a prophet, get me out of here."
Notice he also ate, honey, one of the things the land was meant to flow with. His daily food was "devouring devourers" and the promises of God. Oh and another interesting thing is that as far as I am aware he couldn't hunt either of them, he had to be provided with them. That would build faith.
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