Forty days is how long the season of Lent lasts. Many times, people use this time to give up something that has become a vice to them. Soda, chocolate, desserts, smoking, alcohol, the list goes on and on. Today I want to look at why forty days, not why give something up.
Forty days is a key amount of time in the Bible: You will remember that in the time of Noah, the rains came for 40 days. (Genesis 7:12) Moses fasted 40 days before he was given the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 34:28) The spies surveyed the land of Canaan for 40 days. (Numbers 13:25) Goliath tried to get someone to fight him for 40 days before David stood up. (1 Samuel 17:16) God told Jonah that the city of Nineveh had 40 days to repent before destruction. (Jonah 3:4) Jesus appeared to the disciples for 40 days after the resurrection before ascending to Heaven. (Acts 1:3)
The 40 days that we emulate during Lent represents the 40 days of fasting that Jesus experienced after he was baptized. (Matthew 4:2) He spent 40 days in the wilderness and was tempted by Satan. It is during this time that we see Jesus stand up to Satan and hear some of the most quotable scriptures I remember from my childhood.
‘Man shall not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’
‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’
During this Lenten season, I want to do more than just give up a soda, I want to remember and quote the words Jesus spoke. It is only through Christ that we will have life more abundantly.
Almighty God, help me to rely on the words Your son taught us, to trust in You and to worship only You. – Amen
Brent Manning, Director of Communications
