In the heat of the day!

This summer is getting hotter and we feel the heat pricking through the cells of the body. We see the same in Bible times as God's grace is revealed in the heat of the day.

Abraham was in his tent "at the heat of the day" - the OT scholars suggest he was in pain after circumcision and was sitting at the entrance of his tent. He saw three men standing nearby and he hurried to them from where he was and bowed down to them. We know what happened next. He was given a powerful promise that he would have a son , sametime next year (Genesis 18). Though Sarah laughed, God who is faithful to His promises gave them a child at a very old age and they named him "Isaac" meaning laughter.

Elijah at noon time , mocked the prophets of Baal who were trying to bring fire from heaven. They cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. (1 Kings 18:28) The prophets of Baal indulged in so much of frenzy that nothing happened . Elijah at the time of evening sacrifice took over and repaired the altar. He brought down fire from heaven. When there is intense heat , remember God proved He is the Lord and we respond in worship as the Israelites did that day.

Jonah became angry and as he became upset that the plant which he thought God brought as a shade over him dried up.The sun blazed on the head of Jonah and the Lord revealed his heart -"But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”(Jonah 4:10)

Like Jonah we still desire that the "comforts" we have will stay with us forever, yet they are all temperory. When things don't go our way we become angry and irritated. In the heat of the day let's understand the heartbeat of God for people and the cities of the world. He wants everyone to turn to Him and that none will be lost (2 Peter 3:9, Acts 17:30).