I’ve never been a numbers person. Unlike my husband who can add, subtract, multiply, divide and figure percentages in his head within seconds, I reach for a pen or calculator whenever I face a math problem that involves more than single digits. However, as I was preparing talks for several Lenten retreats, I was intrigued with the biblical significance of the number 40.
According to Scripture, Jesus spent 40 days in the desert where he was tempted while praying and fasting. This is the reason the Church observes Lent for 40 days, but that’s just one event.
During the great flood, God sent rain for 40 days and 40 nights. The Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the desert, and the reigns of Saul, David and Solomon each lasted for 40 years. Yet, these examples represent only a microcosm of the times the number 40 appears in Scripture.
A Google search revealed that 40 appears 159 times in Scripture, which points to the obvious. The use of 40 is symbolic rather than factual.
Its significance is about more than representing a lengthy period of time. Some Scripture scholars suggest that in the Hebrew Scriptures, 40 represented the age and condition of the world, its four corners signifying the brokenness, finite, incomplete and toilsome nature of life on earth. This interpretation invites us to examine what took place in the hearts and lives of the people to whom Scripture assigns the number 40.
Imagine the close quarters, fear and uncertainty that Noah and his family endured while sharing their home with animals of every species as the heavens poured rain. Yet, when they emerged, they were given the opportunity of a new beginning. A daunting task to be sure, but having witnessed the power of God, they learned to trust the Lord.
When the Israelites spent 40 days wandering around the Sinai Desert, they learned to depend on God for food, water and safety. Having been given the Ten Commandments, they were taught the ways of God. It was a period of hardship during which they learned the importance of obedience to God.
The most powerful kings of Israel, Saul, David and Solomon reigned for 40 years. Though they were great rulers, each sinned and learned the hard way that whenever they sinned, personal strife followed.
When we consider 40 in regard to the experience of these biblical figures, it’s not surprising that the evangelists placed Jesus in the desert for 40 days. Not only was the desert a place where the chosen people experience hardship and temptation, it was the place where they learned to trust that God would provide for their spiritual and physical well-being.
In Jesus we have a perfect example of how we are to respond to the temptations that beset every person during life. Jesus refuted the devil by quoting the Word of God. It’s a lesson that we can take to heart and emulate as a way to remain faithful. Life is difficult and the desert is an apt symbol for the time we spend on earth.
I remember the first time I visited the desert. It was during a Catholic writers’ retreat that was held at a Redemptorist retreat house in the Senora Desert in Arizona. As I checked into my room, I noticed there were several bottles of water on the desk, and next to them was a placard with instructions for entering the desert, written in bold print. They were:
- Never enter the desert alone.
- Always take water with you.
- Carry a map and or a compass.
- Beware of snakes, scorpions and other deadly creatures.
It seems to me that the same warnings could be applied to the spiritual journey.
Jesus gave us the Church so that we never have to travel alone. We have the sacraments that provide living water, food and healing for the journey, while Scripture acts as a reliable guide.
Similarly, as we travel through life, we need to be aware of occasions of sin that threaten our spiritual well-being. Just as ancient desert travelers went out of their way to find watering holes, so should we seek out those places that refresh us during difficult times.
Obviously, we don’t spend our entire life in a spiritual desert, but then neither did Jesus. Lent lasts for only 40 days. It’s important to make the most of this time so that when we emerge, we will do so with a purer heart than when we began the journey.
May this Lent be a time of learning and living out the ways of God.