February 12- Forty Days and Forty Nights

February 12, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Exodus 34:1-35:9; Matthew 27:15-31;
Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 9:1-6

Lordy, Lordy, look whose forty.

Exodus 34:1-35:9

When I was in seventh grade I got bussed to a school that was not near my home.  This was part of the mandatory desegregation that was going on across the country at that time.  My parents were staunch public school proponents.  With that as their foundation, I was sent to what anyone would consider to be a sub-standard school.  The combination of bad administration, unhappy students and apathetic teachers created a perfect storm of mediocrity.  It wasn't until my father realized that I was not learning math properly that he took action to move the family to a different part of the city and put me in a different school. My dad thought education was important.  My dad knew that numbers were important, too.

Today we see that God thinks numbers are important.  You may have noticed in today's reading that Moses goes back up to the mountain after smashing the stone tablets and seeks God for a renewal of the Law.  God passes before Moses and declares His own Name. God declares that He is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, rich in unfailing love and faithfulness.  He establishes that He forgives every kind of sin and rebellion, but does not leave sin unpunished.  He confirms that sin has an effect even to the third and fourth generations of a family.  Moses falls down to worship.  After this, God reiterates the Law to Moses and again writes the covenant of the Law on the stone tablets.

We learn after reading the account that this meeting took forty days and forty nights where Moses neither ate nor drank while in the presence of God.  Now here is why I started this blog post about numbers.  You might remember that Noah was in the Ark during the forty days and forty nights of rain and upheaval that created the Flood.  Also, Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights.  Now, we see Moses in the presence of God for forty days and forty nights.  What up with the forty days and forty nights?  God is using this number in a symbolic fashion.  Here is what it symbolizes:

• Forty years is the biblical length of a generation.  After 40 years there is renewal.
• Forty is the number of waiting, preparation, testing or punishment.
• Forty represents death and rebirth.
• Forty represents a sufficient period to finish a work.
• Here are some other 40's in the Bible:  Moses was 40 when he was called by God; Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after His resurrection; Elijah took 40 days to reach Mt. Horeb; Eli judged Israel for 40 years, David and Solomon reigned for 40 years; Goliath defied David and the God of Israel for 40 days; Israel wandered for 40 years in the desert; Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah.

So what is the point?  On the mountain a renewal is taking place for Moses and the people of Israel.  In the face of punishment for their sin of idolatry, God instead, reiterates His promise and covenant with the people of Israel.  God renews the relationship.

Noah came out of the forty days of the Flood to a renewed earth and a new promise by God that He would not destroy the earth by Flood again.  Noah was part of the rebirth of the population of the earth.  Moses came away from the forty days with a renewed promise that God would give the Law to the nation of Israel.  Moses delivered the Law after this time of trial, testing, waiting, and preparation.  Jesus, in his forty days in the wilderness, was tempted, prepared and primed. Jesus came out of the 40 days and nights renewed to lead the world as the Perfect Savior worthy to die for our sins and be reborn in his resurrection. Jesus' 40 days and nights secured our rebirth as new creatures in Christ. Forty is a good number.

What do you think about God's desire to show us His story through numbers?  What are you learning about His personality?

Matthew 27:15-31

Remember how Eve influenced Adam in the Garden of Eden?  Today in our New Testament reading, Pilate's wife attempts to influence Pilate not to be involved in the death of Jesus.  As Pilate is trying to decide what prisoner to release in honor of Passover, she sends him a message to say she had a terrible dream tied to Jesus.  She asks Pilate not to be involved.  Her warnings fall on deaf ears as the crowd roars to have Jesus crucified. 

Pilot shows that he defers to his wife's judgment somewhat when he washes his hands in front of the crowd to claim his innocence in the matter.  The Roman soldiers now take their turn at beating and mocking Christ.  Please note that both Jews and Gentiles mock and torment Jesus.  Both the Israelites and the Gentiles are complicit in the death of the Savior of the world.  As much as Pilate would like to claim innocence in Christ's death, all people who have ever walked the earth and sinned against God are guilty of Jesus' death.  That includes you and me, my friend.  Today's reading ends with Christ being led to his crucifixion.

Have you contemplated your sins which led to the death of Christ?  He took my place and your place on the Cross. Just as God said in Exodus 34 that He forgives every kind of sin and rebellion, but does not leave sin unpunished. Jesus took the punishment for our sin that is required by God's justice and then because that price is paid, God forgives every kind of sin and rebellion of which we are guilty.

Psalm 33:12-22

Here are some verses I like, " The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race.  From his throne He observes all who live on the earth.  He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do." vs. 13-15

Proverbs 9:1-6

Wisdom is a good hostess who invites people to feast with her.  Have you accepted the invitation?  Are crickets chirping as she waits at your heart?

What did you see today?  Please share with me.

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton