FORTY DAY MESSAGES FROM GOD

The Ascension of Jesus occurred forty days after His Resurrection from the grave (Acts 1:1-11). It was during this forty-day period that He, "through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen" (Acts 1:2). Luke mentions Him showing "many infallible proofs (of His bodily resurrection), being seen of them forty days" (Acts 1:3). The Apostle Paul, after explaining the Gospel message that Jesus had fulfilled Bible prophecy with His death, burial, and resurrection, wrote of the events that occurred during those forty days:

"And that He was seen of Cephas (Peter), then of the twelve: after that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain (alive) unto this present (c. A.D. 56), but some are fallen asleep (deceased). After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles" (1 Cor. 15:5-7).

"Forty days" appears to be very significant in the Scriptures. There are at least twelve important events which specifically mention that period of time. With the exception of Jesus fasting prior to His "temptation" (Matt. 4:2), and the period between the Resurrection and the Ascension, all of them occurred in the Old Testament. They are:

1) Days the rains fell during the Flood (Gen. 7:4).
2) Days it took to embalm Jacob (Gen. 50:3).
3) Days Moses was on the mount getting the Ten Commandments (Ex. 24:18).
4) Days Moses was on the mount getting the second set (Ex. 34:28).
5) Days the spies searched the Promised Land (Num. 13:25).
6) Days multiplied by years in the wilderness for Israel's lack of faith (Num. 14:34).
7) Days Goliath challenged Israel (1 Sam. 17:16).
8) Days Elijah was sustained by "angel food" (1 Kgs. 19:8).
9) Days added to Israel's judgment during the Tribulation (Ezek. 4:6).
10) Days Nineveh had to repent before God's judgment (Jon. 3:4).

Obviously, these events are of a serious nature, but there is something that puzzles me about the fasts of Jesus and Elijah. In Elijah's case, the Angel of the Lord* provided him with food before the fasting period, while in the case of Jesus' fast, the angels ministered to Him after the fast (1 Kgs. 19:7; Matt. 4:11). Each of the twelve examples have something to do with God teaching man something; He is either teaching about His love for man, or He is teaching about His hatred for the sin of man. In other words, God is merciful, but He is also Just.

If you haven't received His mercy, you will face His justice!

* Many, including myself, believe the Angel of the Lord is a pre-incarnate manifestation of Jesus, or a Christophany - see www.middletownbiblechurch.org/doctrine/deity09.htm).