Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into
the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty
nights, he was hungry - Mathew 4:1,2.
The
40-day period of Lent correspond to fasting of Jesus for 40 days in the
wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13). During the flood, it rained for 40
days and 40 nights (Genesis 7:4, 12, 17; 8:6). The spies spent 40 days in the
land of Canaan (Numbers 13:25; 14:34). The Israelites wandered in the wilderness
for 40 years (Numbers 33:38, Deuteronomy 1:3). The three great kings Saul,
David and Solomon ruled for 40 years.
The
prophet Elijah traveled for 40 days and nights to reach Horeb, the mountain of
God (1 Kings 19:8). Moses was with the Lord for 40 days and nights without eating
bread or drinking water on Mount Sinai to receive God’s laws (Exodus 34:28). They gained new insights in the God’s
ultimate plan during the period of fasting.
The prophet Jonah powerfully
warned ancient Nineveh that destruction would come because of its many sins for
forty days (Jonah 3:4). Jesus appeared 40 days to His disciples and others
after resurrection. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke
about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).
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