Have you ever tried to explain where Yucca Valley is?
I recently took study leave to attend the Joe Engle Institute of Preaching in New Jersey. Whenever I met someone, they would look at my name badge and ask me where Yoo-ka” Valley was. The first few times I said things like “not far from Palm Springs” or between L.A. and Las Vegas.” These both seem like fair descriptions, but they weren’t all that helpful to people from the east coast. In desperation, I started telling them to watch the nightly weather report. Then, I said, when the meteorologist announced the high temperature in the nation, Yucca Valley would be about 50 or 100 miles from there.
All of which is to say: wow, it’s hot, isn’t it?
When you read the Bible, people don’t complain about the heat. This is amazing, since the stories are set in places that make Yucca Valley temperatures seem mild: parts of Israel, Egypt, Babylon, and the Sinai Peninsula. The only place I can think of where they complain is the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard: “they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'” (Matthew 20:1–16)
Usually, the hot weather (or, rather, climate) of the Bible’s locations is taken for granted and rarely comes up in the text. Most often, it is simply a time of day, like saying “afternoon.” For example, the Israelites gathered manna in the morning, because it would melt away during the heat of
the day (Exodus 16:21).
A few more Biblical weather reports are of interest: In Psalm 32, the Psalmist says his unconfessed sin caused his body to waste away. “My strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.” God is a convicting presence, “a heavy hand” he feels prompting his confession.
In Genesis, on the other hand, Abraham is sitting outside his tent in the heat of the day when God visits him and tells him Sarah will have a son (Gen 18:1). Earlier in the day, and perhaps later as well, Abraham would have been at work tending his flocks. But when the day grew hot, he stopped working. (It helps us understand the laborers’ complaint to realize everyone who could, avoided work at midday.)
The heat of the day may be oppressive, reminding you of unconfessed sin. If it feels that way to you, remember the rest of the Psalm: “I acknowledged my sin … and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” For others, the heat of the day may be a time to rest from the day’s labors. Make some space in your schedule and perhaps you will, like Abraham, experience God as a welcome visitor bringing good news.
Finally, consider this passage from Revelation. In his vision, John sees a great multitude, too numerous to count — all those whose sin is washed by the blood of the Lamb. The speaker says about them: “They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat” (Revelation 7:14). Oppressive heat is a temporary thing, but the loving kindness of God is forever.