Numerous periods of forty days or forty years in the Bible set the stage for this season of Lent and its purpose of preparation. Particularly, preparation for life and victory because of Jesus. But through discipline, turmoil, temptation, and even death.
The flood God rained over all the earth brought death but then life, with waters of both destruction and deliverance. “For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth” (Genesis 7:17).
Messengers of God struggled mightily as representatives of both a holy God and sinful people. This stress in their relationships strengthened them for upcoming mountainous assignments. “Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments” (Exodus 34:28). Then, do you recognize this next prophet as appearing with Moses on the mountain where Jesus was transfigured? “So Elijah got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God” (1 Kings 19:8).
The spies who took inventory of the land of Canaan that God promised to give the Israelites found plenty of reasons to fear for their lives, a fear answered and overcome only by faith. “At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land” (Numbers 13:25).
Notice the similarities in these periods of forty? Sweat. Storm. Weakness. Testing. All of it, by God’s hand, part of the path to greater things in his kingdom like surviving a world-wide flood, initiating the Ten Commandments, climbing God’s mountain and preparing to enter the Promised Land.
What is your struggle this season of Lent? God is in it. Hang in there. In salvation, there is no cross without a crown and no suffering without a purpose.
PRAYER: On this Ash Wednesday, dear Jesus, turn my fascination with the temporary turn-ons of this world into a permanent end. Turn them to ashes and dust, temptations that are dead because my faith and love are strengthened by your faithfulness and forgiveness. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Which of the periods of 40 above most closely resembles your faith journey right now?