What Will You Do with 40 Days?

Read Deuteronomy 9-11:1
 
Deuteronomy 9:16-18 There below me I could see that you had sinned against the Lord your God. You had melted gold and made a calf idol for yourselves. How quickly you had turned away from the path the Lord had commanded you to follow! 17 So I took the stone tablets and threw them to the ground, smashing them before your eyes. 18 Then, as before, I threw myself down before the Lord for forty days and nights. I ate no bread and drank no water because of the great sin you had committed by doing what the Lord hated, provoking him to anger.
 
THIS wasn’t planned, but perhaps God has directed this “40-day” scripture for this day. On the church calendar February 17 is Ash Wednesday, which begins the 40 days of Lent in the church calendar. “Lent”, which means “lengthening of days” is often considered a time of fasting, dedication and/or preparation for Resurrection Day – Easter Sunday. The purpose is to find a way each day you more personally consider Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection for your life. The period actually covers 48 days before Easter, ending on Good Friday. Sunday’s are not counted. Perhaps you might personalize this lesson for your next 40 days.
   Moses gives us quite an example, doesn’t he? How does one grasp the reality of Moses’ passionate petitions for Israel? Praying prostrate on the ground with no food and water for 40 days is not humanly possible. Most of us can’t get past one minute of prayer. How did he do this?
   Certainly God’s presence empowered Moses to love Israel so much he would pray so deeply for them and live through this ordeal.
   One thing we learn of Moses is his consistent desire to protect Israel and others from God’s wrath. In addition to this 40-day prayer, he interceded for Israel at several critical junctures in the 40-year wanderings. He prayed for them when they rebelled against him. Moses prayed for God to forgive Aaron when he formed the golden calf. Moses prayed for Miriam in God’s judgment of leprosy for her envy against Moses. Moses had harsh words for Israel in their sins. He also had passionate prayers for God to forgive their sins. As a good shepherd, Moses was angry over the sin while still loving the sinners.
   The number 40 is one God had chosen to demonstrate devotion, repentance, worship and cleansing. Forty days of rain washed the sin from  the earth (Genesis 7). Israel was judged to 40 years of Wilderness wandering for disobeying God’s command to conquer the Land. In his despair, Elijah traveled 40 days to meet with and find renewal in God’s presence (1 Kings 19). Jesus battled the devil 40 days in the wilderness (Luke 4). Forty days of cleansing, of resisting evil, of repentance…the struggle is enormous…the struggle is for life…the struggle is constant.
   Consider, also, how God has transformed Moses’ resistant, judging heart to a great, sacrificial love for Israel. Yes Moses was angry and often very frustrated with Israel’s lack of faith. Yet, love is why Moses didn’t quit. To Israel, Moses reflected the holy love God had extended to him. When you know God loves you even as you are a sinner, how can you not love sinners? God’s will was done on earth as he forgave Israel and moved them toward their future.
   Do you need to meet with God? Who in your family needs your loving intercession? Might you devote yourself to pray for someone – even yourself – for the next 40 days?
 
1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually.