40 Years

The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. Judges 13:1 NRSV

Someday I am going through the bible and marking all the places where 40 days or 40 years are mentioned. The flood, the Israelites in the wilderness, Jesus in the wilderness and this passage will be among them. I understand how important the number 40 is in the bible!

At this point in the book of Judges, God is really ticked off by the evil that the Israelites were doing. God then decides that only a killing off of the current generation - that is what happens to the Israelites in the wilderness after all- will do. So, God places them under the control of the Philistines. God is trying to teach God's people a lesson. God is trying to get them to grow up. God is trying to help them to see what God has done for them and how much God really wants to be in a relationship with them - a relationship that they say they want but don't follow through.

Lent is a period of forty days - not including Sundays- leading up to Easter. This should be an important time for us! We need to be looking at where we have done evil. We need to see if we have ticked God off with our behavior. We need to re-establish our relationship with God.

God does want that special relationship with us. That is why God sent Christ Jesus who gave up his life for us and our relationship with God.

God, where have I been doing evil in my life? Where do I need to make amends with you and others? Forgive me and help me to become closer to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims