What Do the Solar Eclipse, Jesus, Jonah and Moses All Have in Common? Hint: 40 Days of....

On Monday August 21, 2017 a solar eclipse is scheduled to go across America from coast to coast. What's unique about August 21st?  It is also the first day of Elul in the Hebraic calendar. On this day in history:

• Jesus was led into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days - Matthew 4


• Jonah began to call Nineveh to repent for 40 days which they did with fasting - Jonah 3


• Moses went up the mountain, spent time with God, got the covenant and he fasted 40 days - Exodus 34

Pastor Mark Blitz also says there is another thing God is highlighting with this event. It comes from Haggai 1 where it admonishes the people for ignoring God's house. There is a call to build God's house and Isaiah 56:7 and Matthew 21:13 calls God's house a house of prayer.

It's pretty clear God is calling us to repent, fast and pray. What do you think? I think Joel 2 says it best.

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Joel 2:12-17 
“Now, therefore,” says the Lord,
“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
Who knows if He will turn and relent,
And leave a blessing behind Him--
A grain offering and a drink offering
For the Lord your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion,
Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly;
Gather the people,
Sanctify the congregation,
Assemble the elders,
Gather the children and nursing babes;
Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber,
And the bride from her dressing room.
Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,
Weep between the porch and the altar;
Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord,
And do not give Your heritage to reproach,
That the nations should rule over them.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’ ”