Forty Days or Forty Years

There is much to learn by looking at all the forty years or forty days in the Bible. Of course, in the great flood, it rained for forty days and forty nights, but Noah was prepared (Genesis 7). He had followed God's instructions and built an ark, even though he lived in a desert area without rain, and people scoffed at his endeavors. They weren't scoffing when the rains came and they drowned while Noah and his family were saved.

 Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah (Genesis 25:20).  Moses lived in exile for forty years before he encountered a burning bush and received directives from God to return to Eygpt to set the Israelites free (Acts 7:30). Moses was also on the mountain for forty days to receive the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28). And the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years for their hard-heartedness before being allowed to enter into the promised land (Joshua 5:6). Joshua was forty years old when he was sent out with Caleb and the group of spies (Joshua 14:7). They returned from searching the land after forty days to give their report (Numbers 13:25).

Goliath, the giant Philistine, presented himself to taunt the army of Israel for forty days before the encounter with young David defeated him (1 Samuel 17:16). King Saul reigned as King of Israel for forty years (Acts 13:21), as did David who followed him (2 Samuel 5:4). David's son, Solomon, also ruled for forty years (1 Kings 11:42), as did some other of their kings. During the time of the prophet Ezekiel, God made Egypt a wasteland for forty years (Ezekiel 29:11).

The forties continue in the New Testament, too. Jesus spent forty days and forty nights in the wilderness before being tempted by Satan and then starting his ministry (Matthew 4:2). He also spent forty days on earth after his crucifixion and resurrection (Mark 1:13 & Acts 1:3). Paul told of receiving "forty lashes save one" five times because of his mission work (2 Corinthians 11:24). Whether forty seconds, forty minutes, forty days, forty years, or whatever time the call requires, we should all be ready to follow the Lord in obedience. It's not the time that matters, but our hearts and our surrender.

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