40 Days and 41 is Coming
In a recent Facebook Post I read the following:
In the Bible, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights.
Day 41 came and the rain stopped.
Moses committed murder & hid in the desert for 40 years.
Year 41 came, and God called him to help rescue Israel.
Moses went up on the mountain for 40 days.
On day 41, he received the Ten Commandments.
The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.
Year 41, they walked into the Promised Land.
Goliath taunted Israel for 40 days.
Day 41 came, and David slew him.
Jonah preached a message of repentance to Ninevah for 40 days.
On day 41, God stopped His plan to destroy them.
Jesus fasted and was tempted for 40 days.
Day 41, and the devil fled.
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples for 40 days.
On day 41, He ascended into Heaven.
All this to say…don’t quit. The rain will stop, the giant will fall, and you will enter your “promised land.” Don’t give up at 40. 41 is coming.
The Significance of 40 in the Bible
The number 40 is significant in the Bible. The examples that appeared in this post are but a few of the times 40 days or years are noted in the Bible.
The use of 40 appears in times of judgment/ repentance, preparation and transition.
40 Days of Lent: Repentance, Preparation, and Victory
As we begin the Season of Lent, we are reminded that for 40 days we are to spend time preparing for the wondrous celebration of Easter.
As we journey together through these 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter, we are reminded that this is a time of repentance. This is a time to confess our sins and let God search our hearts and minds so that we might be honest about the sin that “so easily entangles us.”
It is a time of preparation. During this season we want to pray that we might discover how God is molding us and making us for the days to come.
This is a season of victory and transition. Lent is a season, although sometimes dark and reflective, leads to glorious rejoicing and hope.
In the Lenten Season, the 40 days do not include the Sundays. The Sundays of Lent are meant for rejoicing and breaking the cycle of confession and repentance.
As we gather each week to worship, we will bring with us to our gathering a week of confession and preparation and we will again remember that every Sunday is resurrection Sunday and we will rejoice in the forgiveness and victory we have in Christ.
