THE POWER OF UNITY: Lessons from the locust

When you see a single locust, it seems so small, so weak, so harmless that you wouldn’t think twice about it. One quick step and it’s crushed under your foot. On its own, it can do nothing. It is insignificant, even invisible to the world.

But bring locusts together in their millions, they become a force of unimaginable destruction. Together, they darken the skies, strip the fields bare, and turn lush landscapes into wastelands.

Scripture paints this terrifying picture in Exodus 10:15: “For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees… and there remained not any green thing in the trees or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.”

What’s even more remarkable is that locusts have no king, no visible commander, no general giving orders. Yet they move with perfect coordination. Proverbs 30:27 (NKJV) points this out: “The locusts have no king, yet they all advance in ranks.”

Think about it, these tiny, seemingly insignificant insects, without leadership or intelligence as we know it, march together like a mighty army. One locust can’t do anything. A million locusts can bring a mighty empire to its knees.

What a powerful message for us! If creatures without reason or leadership can unite and accomplish so much, how much more should we, the people of God, who have a King, the King of kings, walk in unity and power?

The Bible declares Jesus as King from beginning to end: 

• He was born a King – Matthew 2:2: “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?”

• He died a King – Matthew 27:37: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

• He will return as King of kings – 1 Timothy 6:15: “He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.”

The early church understood this power of unity under Christ’s leadership. Acts 2:44 (AMP) says: “And all who believed were together and had all things in common.”

They moved together, prayed together, worshiped together, and God added to their numbers daily.

But look around today: divisions are everywhere—between denominations, between church leaders, even within local assemblies. The Church often fractures over petty issues, weakening our witness and diluting our impact. How tragic that the Church, filled with the Spirit of the Living God, sometimes struggles to match even the simple unity of a swarm of mindless insects!

Jesus Arena, are we truly advancing in ranks?

Are we standing shoulder-to-shoulder under the banner of Christ? Or are we breaking ranks, scattered, isolated and ineffective? It’s time for a heart-check; individually, regardless of who you are or the position you occupy. What is your role within the body? Let each of us ask the Holy Spirit to shine His light into our hearts. Are we building up the unity of the body, or tearing it down? Are we moving with our brothers and sisters in harmony, or sowing discord through pride, offence, manipulation, gossip or selfishness?

Let’s seek the Holy Spirit’s power to bind us together—not just in word but in heart, in mission, in attitude and in purpose, so that the Church can rise to every situation and circumstance. We can become an unstoppable strength, bringing glory to Jesus, our eternal King.

When we unite under Christ, nothing can stand against us.

Stay blessed,

Pastor Ranti Orioke