40 and Counting…

40 and Counting…

No, I’m not 40 years old this year. Passed that a long time ago. But I attended my 40 year class reunion this year. Wow, just saying that sounds unbelievable. Where did the time go? I remember attending the 10 year reunion. It seemed like such a long time since we had graduated. Everyone had changed so much. Looking back, that really was a very busy decade. Marriage, education, careers, moving, having children, etc. really meant a lot of change for most people.

Then the 20 year reunion and then the 30 year mark passed. I really understand now what people mean when they observe how time flies by the older we get. I guess that is understandable since early on in life a decade can mean half the time one has been alive. And now a decade represents less than 20 percent of my life. Oh well, I really enjoy my life and am anxious to see what the next 10 years brings.

Recently I began to think about the number 40 and its significance. The study of numbers is called numerology and it is particularly interesting as it relates to the Bible. For example, it is really important to understand the significance of numbers in the study of Revelation.

In general, the number 1 represents unity or togetherness. Think one GOD.
The number 2 represents strength or confirmation. Think two witnesses.
Number 3 is a sacred number representing Divine completion. Think of the Trinity.
4 is an earthly number as in the 4 directions, the 4 seasons, etc.
5 (and multiples of 5) signify human completeness. Think 5 fingers and toes.
6 (being 1 short of 7) represents imperfection.
7 represents perfection or completeness.

This study of the numbers in the Bible is very interesting. Another example is the number 3 (Divine) and 4 (earthly) multiplied together yields 12. The number 12 is a perfect number in Hebrew numerology. Think of the 12 tribes, the 12 apostles, the 12 gates, etc.

So what about the number 40? The number 40 is associated with testing and trials. It is found very often in the Scriptures. Below is a sampling of the use of 40.

• 40 days of rain with the Flood (Genesis 7)
• 40 days Moses was on the mountain (Exodus 24)
• 40 years the children wandered in the wilderness
• 40 years old was Joshua when he was sent to spy out the land
• 40 years Saul reigned as King
• 40 years David reigned over Israel
• 40 years Solomon reigned
• 40 days and Nineveh would be destroyed prophesied Jonah
• 40 days Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness
• 40 days was Jesus on earth after the Resurrection

In most of these one can see the element of testing and trials. Wow, that is really not a comforting thought as I observe my 40th class reunion. But the truth is as I observed my fellow classmates, we all have our trials and struggles. Admittedly some appear greater than others, but all struggle.

Job in the long ago observed, “Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” It is important only in how we deal with those troubles.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He began that chapter with this comforting thought, “Let not your hearts be troubled; you believe in GOD, believe also in Me.”

So classmates and dear reader, I pray that you will seek and find the only true Comfort.