40 in God Years

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This post goes out right around my 40th birthday. Knowing the average for life expectancy in Canada peaks at 81 this year, I am officially primed for a midlife crisis. Woohoo! Thankfully, good genes factor in, and with three of my four grandparents still kicking in their 90s, I probably have a few more years before I shave my head and make basketweaving my whole personality—no offence to the basket weavers among us. You’re doing the Lord’s work.

So, in honour of this milestone, I did a deep dive on the significant references to 40 in the Bible and have put together some meaningful takeaways from each story to help me navigate this next season of my life. I will wrap up with my own reflection on 40, so make sure to read till the end and enjoy some childhood photos sprinkled throughout!

Noah

At the time of Noah, the inhabitants of the world were terribly corrupt and wicked. Noah was the only one found righteous so God graciously spared him before sending rain to flood the earth. The 40 days of rain in Noah's flood represent divine judgment and cleansing, but also the beginning of a new creation and covenant with God. God was faithful to Noah, and Noah was faithful to God even when it didn’t make sense to anyone around him. Noah trusted God to preserve his life and the life of his family. Do I trust God even when it doesn’t make sense to others?

Wilderness

The 40 years of Israelites in the wilderness symbolize a prolonged season of testing, dependence, and spiritual formation before entering the promised land. It was not God’s first choice for the people. In fact, the journey from Egypt to Canaan, should have taken them 10-14 days. When do we take the long way to learn a lesson or trust God in the unknown?

Moses

Conveniently, the life of Moses can be broken up into 40-year periods. Moses lived to be 120 years old, and the three 40-year periods in the life of Moses reflect distinct stages of preparation: identity in Egypt, hidden formation in Midian, and leadership in delivering and shepherding God’s people.

We are most familiar with the part of Moses’ story that delivers the nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, followed by the wilderness season leading to the promised land. But can you believe it took 80 years to become the kind of person and develop the kind of character Moses would require to do this? What is my current season preparing me for and am I mindful of this?

Mount Sinai

During the journey to the promised land, there were two 40-day periods where Moses was on Mount Sinai talking with God. This time with the Lord emphasized the deep communion Moses had with God. Each 40-day period also served as a moment of covenant renewal between God and the nation of Israel, and it was also when Moses received the Torah, God’s law, which served as God’s instruction for Israel. Do I seek the same level of intimacy with God as Moses did when he boldly asked God to show him his glory?

Spies

When the Israelites finally reached the edge of the promised land, Moses selected 12 spies from the 12 tribes of Israel to go scope out the land. The 40 days spent spying out Canaan by the Israelites served as a test of their trust. Unfortunately their fearful response revealed unbelief and ultimately led to judgment and 40 years wandering around in the wilderness. When do I live by fear of the unknown over faith in the God who knows everything? 

Goliath

It wasn’t until I embarked on this biblical 40 journey that I discovered the reference to 40 days of taunting the Israelites by Goliath in 1 Samuel. Can you imagine a bully picking on you like that for 40 days straight? Unfortunately, I think too many can.

This 40-day period highlights a complete season of intimidation and testing before God’s deliverance through David right after David was confident that God could deliver his people from Goliath. Not because of himself or the people, but because God is good and God is faithful. How do I respond to moments of intimidation and testing? 

United Kingdom

Not that United Kingdom. But the united kingdom, but the period in Israel’s history when the nation was united. The 40-year reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon mark complete eras in Israel’s monarchy, with Solomon’s ending leading to national division because of spiritual compromise. The first three monarchs of Israel were not perfect, but it was during their reign that the twelve tribes of Israel were united under one nation. This ended with Solomon’s son, Rehoboam and his selfish ambition that led to the civil war that divided the kingdom forever. Does my selfish ambition cause division, or does my humility bring unity?

Wilderness 2.0 

The 40 days of temptation of Jesus Christ in the wilderness mirror Israel’s 40 years, but where Israel failed, Jesus remained faithful and obedient. Jesus’ identity as the beloved Son of God anchored him and empowered him to face temptations and testing and overcome. This is essentially the message of 40 in the Bible: tests. Tests of character, obedience, and faith. Am I rooted in Jesus for my identity in order to withstand my own tests of character, obedience, and faith?

Jesus Post-Resurrection

The 40 days that Jesus appeared to his disciples after the resurrection represent a transitional period of teaching, confirmation, and preparation before his ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost marking the birth of the Church.

Tina’s 40

I once read that how you live your first 40 determines how your remaining 40 will go. Although much of our first 40 years are out of our control due to being dependent on our families of origin, there is still something sobering and motivating about that. 

Looking back over the past 40 years, these are a four things I wish I could tell my former self:

1. Choose kindness. Over funny, popular, or being right. Choose to be kind. It will get you further and stay with you longer.

2. Learn to wait well. I brought so grief upon myself in seasons when I was waiting for answers and robbed myself of the joy God had for me in each of those seasons of waiting. 

3. Don’t sweat the small stuff. And be more intentional about recognizing the difference between small and big stuff!

4. Do the work to find your identity in Christ earlier. So much of the previous three could have gone better had I prioritized more time spent with Jesus—learning to hear his voice, getting to know him through Scripture, and building the muscles of faith that will carry me forward. 

Finally, since my formal training is in modern history, I am sharing this fun fact: I was born 40 years after the end of World War II, and now I’m just as far removed from my birth year, as my birth year was from the end of the war. Time really does fly. And in the end I’m just really thankful for the journey.

What’s in the Ears

This is the part where I share a song or podcast I’m currently into. In honour of my 40th birthday, I am sharing a song that I allegedly loved dancing to as a baby by Ritchie Valens titled, La Bamba. Enjoy and you’re welcome!

If this stirred something in you, share this post with a friend or drop a comment below. I’d love to hear what small step you’re taking towards the flourishing life today! And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing.