Warning!

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet…Malachi 4:5

Life wasn’t so good in the days of Malachi. They were suffering an unusual amount of tragedy. Sound familiar? On top of poor health, they suffered bad weather. This caused poor production, both in the field and in the shops. They were remembering and longing for better times.

Too often when life is hard, we long for more of life’s pleasures. It is natural to enjoy life. When times are difficult, we want more enjoyment. When times get really bad, we want to leave this planet. We long for Jesus’ return. It is only natural.

Such was the case in the days of Malachi. They were unhappy and they wanted an end to their problems; all their problems. They prayed for the Day of the Lord. In their mind, when that day arrived, God would intervene with His strong right arm and destroy their problems. They thought The day of the Lord would solve everything. They would enjoy peace, prosperity, the pleasures of divine presence. Judgment would come upon their enemies sparing God’s chosen people.

God answers their prayers. But not in the way they expected. Malachi 4:5-6: Behold, I will send you Elijah, the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. Perhaps we should be careful of what we pray for?

The Day of the Lord would not be as they expected. It would be a great and dreadful day. It will come as a burning oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up, Chapter 4:1. Like the flood, what saves us, will destroy them. The Day of the Lord will not be ignored. It will be so great and dreadful, so significant and scary, all on earth will see Jesus in the clouds.