Question: Why is Lent forty (40) days long? Is it just a tradition or is there a biblical relationship?
Bonus Question: Throughout the Old Testament the number forty (40) carried a deep meaning. Can you name at least two examples from the Old Testament?
Answer: 40 is a number mentioned in the Bible dozens of times, usually associated with testing or hardships to become more spiritually aware. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. (Mt 4:1-11) We spend 40 days preparing for His death and resurrection.
Bonus Answer(s):
- God flooded the Earth for 40 days and 40 nights.
- Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years.
- Moses fasted in the desert for 40 days before receiving the 10 commandments.
- Elijah fasted in the desert for 40 days learning to lead the people of Israel.
- Kings Saul, David and Solomon were each said to have ruled for 40 years.
- Jonah warned the people of Nineveh for 40 days that they would be destroyed because of their many sins.
- There are many others.