Forty Days and Forty Nights

Seven days from now I will make the rains pour down on the earth. And it will rain for forty days and forty nights, until I have wiped from the earth all the living things I have created. Genesis 7:4  

Seven days. A lot can happen in seven days…creation of the world…celebration of the Festival of Shelters, Festival of Passover, length of quarantine for a person healed from leprosy, ceremonial uncleanness, number of days the Israelites marched around Jericho, as well as the number of days between Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday. Seven is important. Likewise, forty is significant. Twice Moses was up on Mount Sinai for forty days with God, receiving God’s directions for living…based on His Ten Commandments and direction on building the Tabernacle (Exodus 24-25). Before the Israelites went into the Promised Land Moses sent a group of men to spy out the territory for forty days (Numbers 13:25). Goliath taunted the Israelite army for forty days (1 Samuel 17:16). Elijah took forty days to travel to Mount Sinai when he ran for his life from Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 19:9). Jonah fasted for forty days and nights when he went to Nineveh after being in the belly of the giant fish for three days (Jonah 3). Jesus fasted for forty days and nights in the desert when He was tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2). There were 40 days between the crucifixion and ascension of Christ (Acts 1:3).

Rainclouds gathering around the Netherlands Noah's Ark  

Rain for forty days and forty nights to wipe out everything on earth…except Noah, his family, and a bunch of animals. There were numerous animals—two of each plus seven of each of the clean animals. Rain. Did Noah even understand what rain was when God said it will rain for forty day and forty nights? It had never rained on earth before that time—but that is exactly what happened. The rain continued to fall for forty days and forty nights. Genesis 7:12. God kept His promise. Only Noah, his family and the ark full of animals were spared. Everything else on earth was destroyed as the water covered the earth.

Prayer ~ Lord God, I’m sorry that people became so bad, so wicked and evil that You had to destroy them. As I look around the earth now, I see the evil of Noah’s time raging through cities and towns everywhere. No regard or respect for You. What is happening? May You see more Noahs and have mercy as You prepare to set things right in the world again. That day is coming. Show us Your promise again.

Bible Reading: January 12 – Job 32-34

© 2017 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted

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