Hold on for 41

The number “40” is an interesting number. It is the only number in the English language whose letters appear in alphabetical order. Minus 40 degrees is the same in the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales. When the bubonic plague hit Europe in the Middle Ages, ships were held in the harbor for 40 days before passengers were allowed off the ship. The Italian word for 40 is “quaranta,” from which we get quarantine.

The Monopoly board has 40 spaces, making chances of winning the lottery equal to going to jail, 2.5% each time around the board. Forty is the maximum size of a Major League Baseball roster. WD-40 is so named as it was the 40th attempt to develop the product (WD actually stands for “water displacement”). A human pregnancy is actually pegged at 40 weeks. The story of Ali Baba and the Arabian Nights has 40 thieves. A good night’s sleep is said to be 40 winks. And, as we all know, the traditional workweek in the United  States is 40 hours. Maybe worst of all, someone has chronicled 40 changes to our bodies as we reach age forty. Getting old is definitely not for sissies.

But this isn’t about a bunch of trivia regarding the number 40. This number seems to be Biblical shorthand for a long time. There are several instances in the Bible where 40 comes into play. It may be any measurement of time, but 40 days is the most prevalent. Let’s examine a few of these cases from the Bible.

Noah. Genesis 6 begins the Biblical account of Noah and the flood. Man had become wicked and God vowed to wipe them from the face of the earth. But Noah was righteous before God, so God saved him and his family. God determined to flood the whole earth, wiping out life. He instructed Noah to build an ark, giving him detailed instructions. Noah obeyed. Rain on earth was unheard of prior to this time, as Genesis 2:5-6 indicates that no rain had fallen on the earth. Verse 6 tells us that “a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground.” Noah was certainly the subject of much ridicule, building a huge ark nowhere near a body of water. Yet he persevered. It has been estimated it took Noah between 20 and 40 years to build this massive ship. God had not told Noah the answer to the burning question “Why?” Noah had no idea what God was planning. Eventually, God told him to fill the ship and seven days later, the rains would commence. Only then do we know that Noah learned there would be 40 days and nights of rain. So maybe Noah’s 40-day trial of rain was in addition to 40 years of building.

Moses. As a member of the royal family in Egypt, Moses lived a life of privilege. He could easily have forgotten or ignored his Hebrew roots. Yet we are told in Exodus 2 that Moses went out among the Hebrews and saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. We are told Moses “looked this way and that, and when he saw that there was no one around, he struck and killed the Egyptian, and hid his body in the sand” (Exodus 2:12). The next day Moses saw two Hebrews fighting and tried to break it up. One of them said to him “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian? (Exodus 2:14). Moses knew he had been found out, word spread, and Pharoah pledged to kill Moses, but Moses escaped to Midian. 

Moses made a life and lived in Midian in exile for 40 years. I suppose Moses was living a contented life. One day he was pasturing the flock of his father-in-law and noticed something different. He saw a bush, burning, but not consumed. He is recorded as saying “I must turn aside and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burning up!” (Exodus 3:3) As he approached, God called Moses from the bush. God told Moses He had an assignment for him. He told Moses that He (God) was going to free the Hebrews from their affliction in Egypt. Moses may have said or thought “Hey, that’s great, God. They’ve been oppressed for years.” Then God dropped the other shoe “I’m going to use you to do this. So head to Egypt, I’ll be with you all the way. Obviously, Moses’ 40 years in Midian was preparation for this monumental task as he knew the land well.

Israel. Imagine you’re a Hebrew slave who has just escaped Egypt and have seen what God did to set them free. “All right! We’re headed to the Promised Land. A land of milk and honey. Our troubles are over.” Not so fast. They became disgruntled. They became tired of traveling, tired of manna, tired of not having a place to call home. If you’ve ever taken a road trip with kids, the most common words you’ll probably hear are “I’m hungry” and “Are we there yet?” That was the Hebrews. About half-way through the journey Moses sent 12 scouts to check out the Promised Land. After 40 days, two scouts brought back favorable reports. The other ten were “Debbie Downers.” “We’ve come all this way just to fall into the hands of another oppressor” was their sentiment. They were not ready to stop and settle down, so God sent them on to wander 40 years. They needed preparation time.

David and Goliath. The Philistines were on the march. According to I Samuel 17, they had gathered at Socoh in Judah. Saul and the Israeli army were on a nearby mountain. Between them lay the Valley of Elah. The Israelites drew into a battle formation.

Then Goliath stepped forward from among the Philistine army. The Bible description of his height is six cubits and a span. Let’s put that into something we can relate to. Goliath was about 9 ½ feet tall. If he lived today, he would be the GOAT of the NBA. Likewise, his armor was massive with a  protective coat weighing as much at 156 pounds. His spear was 26 feet long and his helmet was 17 pounds. He challenged the Israelites to a one-on-one battle, winner take all. This went on for (you guessed it) 40 days. 

David was tending his father’s flock and was not initially involved in this scenario. Jesse sent David to the Israeli camp with food for his brothers. When David got there, Goliath came out and the Israelites fled. About age 17, David was somewhat naively aghast, saying “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he has dared to defy the armies of the living God?” (I Samuel 17:26). A teenager often thinks he is invincible, even back then. When David volunteered to take on Goliath, and was discouraged and ridiculed, he basically replied “I’ve been preparing for this all my life. I have rescued sheep from lions and bears, this uncircumcised Philistine is no different.” After refusing to wear the King’s armor (“I haven’t trained with with this armor, it will hinder me.”) he picked five stones, got his sling, put a stone in it, and plopped Goliath in the forehead. Dead on the ground. Imagine the shock that overtook The Philistines. Their champion was dead. They fled and Israel was once again saved. Someone once quipped that David had five stones because maybe Goliath had four brothers. He knew he could hit Goliath in only one try.

Jonah. As we are dealing with the number 40, we can ignore the lead up to Jonah’s story. The relevant portion for us today is found in Jonah 3 where Jonah walked through Nineveh, proclaiming God’s message given to him. “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites listened as the king issued a proclamation that everyone should call on God and give up their evil ways. The 40-day deadline was avoided.

Samson. The Israelites had been under the domination of the Philistines for 40 years and God sent a strong man, Samson, to rescue them. Samson was far from perfect in his ways, but serves as a reminder that God can use anyone, maybe even if they are unwilling or unaware. 

Elijah. I like Elijah. I can identify with him. He had just had an astounding victory. In a confrontation with 450 prophets of Baal, he single-handedly showed the power of God and bested the prophets, killing them all (I Kings 19). Then he heard that Jezebel had sworn to have Elijah killed. So Elijah high-tailed it out of town, sat under a tree and had a massive pity-party. God came to him, fed him, gave him drink and sent him on a journey to Horeb. A 40-day journey to get his mind right.

Jesus. There are at least two instances in Jesus’ earthly life that involve 40 days. In the first instance Jesus was beginning his ministry. After Jesus was baptized, Luke 4 tells us that “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness” (v. 1). It is worth noting that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit. Jesus did not go into the wilderness unprepared. He was Spirit-led. He fasted. Prayer is often associated with fasting, so it is likely that Jesus prayed during this time. He spent 40 days in the wilderness. 

At the end of this time, Matthew records (Chapter 4) that He became hungry and the devil came to Him. But the human Jesus was ready. Knowing Jesus was hungry, he appealed to that hunger and told Jesus to prove himself by turning the stones into bread. Jesus replied “Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.” Strike one.

Not to be deterred, Satan took Jesus up, showing Him all the kingdoms of the world. Satan offered them to Him, saying  “I will give You all this domain and its glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I want.  Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” (Luke 4:6-7). Note that Satan was correct. He is the ruler of Earth . Once again, Jesus quoted scripture to him. Deuteronomy 6:13, telling Satan  “You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.” Strike two.

Still hoping, Satan once again tried to trip Jesus by quoting scripture. Taking Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple he told Jesus to throw himself down. Quoting Psalm 91:11 (“For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.”) He was appealing to God’s protection of Jesus. “Why not throw yourself down. Your God will protect you.” Jesus retorted with scripture (Deuteronomy 6:16) “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” Strike three and you’re out! Satan, then as now, did not give up but left to lick his wounds and plan his next attack.

Jesus spent 40 agonizing days fasting and praying. When that period was done, Jesus returned to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit” to begin his ministry. Day 41 was upon Him. And He had prepared himself.

There are three lessons for us here. One, Jesus was led by the Spirit. If we deviate from that we will fail. Two, Jesus knew the Scripture and used it against Satan. Three, Satan knows the Scripture but he misused it. Knowing scripture helps us when someone misquotes or applies it erroneously. For example I could tell you (Matthew 27:5) that Judas went out and hung himself. Then I could follow up and tell you (Luke 10:37 NIV) “Go and do likewise.”  

The other 40-day event in Jesus’ life occurred after His resurrection. Only this time, Jesus was not preparing himself, he was demonstrating to His followers that he was, indeed, alive. He was also preparing them to carry on His ministry, assuring them that the Holy Spirit would be given them. So, in a sense, this was  40 days of preparation for his disciples. During these 40 days he revealed himself, reminding His followers that he told them he would rise after three days. Just before His ascension, we were given the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

There are four things we need to remember. First, Jesus’ statement is that when He ascends and the Holy Spirit comes, we will receive His authority. Second, we are to go make disciples and teach them. Third, those disciples will be baptized by water and the Spirit. Fourth, He is always with us.

Day 41. In all of these 40-day  (year) periods, we see that those involved are undergoing a time of testing and preparation. It is a difficult time and we must endure. Enduring the 40 days (years) of preparation we have finished this course. We are ready for what God has for us. Victory is secured, we have graduated. This brings to mind the word “commencement,” often used to refer to the graduation ceremonies. Commencement, in addition to reference to a graduation ceremony, also refers to the beginning or start of something. Let God mold you, prepare you, and don’t give up. He has great things for you if you will only claim them. We are ready for God’s next challenge for us. We are ready to commence. In 2 Timothy 4:7-8 Paul wrote “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

We endure, we undergo trials and testing. At the end of the course, at the end of our “40” our reward is bestowed on us by our Lord. Claim your “41” for all eternity. 

Unless otherwise indicated all scripture is from the New American Standard Bible.

Photo credit to Adrian Vieriu from Pexels