“Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.” ~ Mark 1:6 NKJV

John the Baptist was a rugged man—a man of faith, courage, and resourcefulness. He lived in the wilderness where few would dare to live, and he clothed himself with the resources of the desert, such as the hide of a camel. As the animal itself which carried a reservoir of physical water within it’s own body, so too did John carry a reservoir of spiritual water—the water of the Spirit—when the world all around him was a spiritual desert.

Though the man very likely ate much differently in his earlier life, at this season John had a most peculiar diet, that of locusts and honey. And while some may interpret this to be the locust bean, it most likely is just what Scripture says: locusts. John ate these insects! They are clearly mentioned in Leviticus 11:22 as clean insects that the people of Israel were allowed to eat, perhaps during times of food scarcity. Some people ate them and John was one of them. Next time we will delve into some spiritual reasons as to why John may have eaten locusts, but first let’s explore the spiritual implications of honey.

Honey in Scripture is symbolic of God’s Word. True raw honey—wild honey—is sweet, full of nutrients, and it is also one of the few foods that lasts forever if uncontaminated. But you want to know why honey is a symbol of the Word of God, right? Some examples you can look up and pray about are Psalm 19:10, Revelation 10:9, and Song of Solomon 4:11. Here is another:

How sweet are Your words to my taste,

Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Through Your precepts I get understanding;

Therefore I hate every false way.

Your word is a lamp to my feet

And a light to my path.

~Psalm 119:103-105

The point is to understand how important God’s Word is to our lives. Whose words do you most value in life?

A spouse, a parent, a teacher, a mentor, an author, a celebrity…perhaps the words you value most are your own?

The words you live by are like the spiritual DNA of the person you are becoming. God speaks pure truth and His words, like honey, last forever and ever. If we value God, we will value His Word—the Bible. Don’t let the interpretations of men deter you. Through the Word of God, the Spirit of God will speak to you if you want to hear Him…if you want to know Him.

Our Father in Heaven, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You said to us, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). Help me to abide in You, Jesus, as You abide in the Father. Help me to read the Word of God, the Bible, and put it into practice. Let my desires and motives align with You, Lord Jesus, for You are the Word of God (John 1:1) and the Word made flesh (John 1:14). In Your Name I pray, Amen.