Forty
According to Meriam-Webster, quarantine is defined as (1) a period of 40 days. The official COVID-19 "stay at home" order went into effect on March 23 and will be lifted (in most areas) on May 1. That's 40 days.
Christianity uses forty (40) to designate important time periods. The rains that came as a flood that covered the earth lasted 40 days and 40 nights (Genesis 7:12). Moses departed for Mount Sinai and stayed there for 40 days and nights to receive the 10 commandments before wandering in the wilderness for 40 years (Joshua 5:6). Jesus fasted in the dessert for 40 days (Matthew 4:2). I think it's interesting that the optimum number of weeks for human gestation is 40 weeks and the recommended postpartum recovery for a Mother is 40 days.
A group of theologians believe the number 40 represents "change". It is the time of preparing a person (or people) to make a fundamental change. Change is happening and will continue to happen. These 40 days of "quarantine" have changed us. But how? Howard Dayton of Compass - finances God's way believes that God is drawing people to Himself or judging the idols (the idols of self sufficiency, materialism, sports, etc...). I tend to believe that Mr. Dayton is right. I think God is working.
During this time of "quarantine" we may feel like we've lost so much but families are spending more time together, people are helping their neighbors and friends, the rivers are cleaning up, vegetation is growing, the air is becoming more clean and less polluted, people are slowing down, there are less thefts and murders, healing is happening and people are turning to Christ. The Earth is resting. We are resting. Hearts are being transformed.
2020 is perfect vision and we are in the year 2020. May we come out of this "quarantine" with laser-focus on the Lord and living according to His perfect vision for us.
Christianity uses forty (40) to designate important time periods. The rains that came as a flood that covered the earth lasted 40 days and 40 nights (Genesis 7:12). Moses departed for Mount Sinai and stayed there for 40 days and nights to receive the 10 commandments before wandering in the wilderness for 40 years (Joshua 5:6). Jesus fasted in the dessert for 40 days (Matthew 4:2). I think it's interesting that the optimum number of weeks for human gestation is 40 weeks and the recommended postpartum recovery for a Mother is 40 days.
A group of theologians believe the number 40 represents "change". It is the time of preparing a person (or people) to make a fundamental change. Change is happening and will continue to happen. These 40 days of "quarantine" have changed us. But how? Howard Dayton of Compass - finances God's way believes that God is drawing people to Himself or judging the idols (the idols of self sufficiency, materialism, sports, etc...). I tend to believe that Mr. Dayton is right. I think God is working.
During this time of "quarantine" we may feel like we've lost so much but families are spending more time together, people are helping their neighbors and friends, the rivers are cleaning up, vegetation is growing, the air is becoming more clean and less polluted, people are slowing down, there are less thefts and murders, healing is happening and people are turning to Christ. The Earth is resting. We are resting. Hearts are being transformed.
2020 is perfect vision and we are in the year 2020. May we come out of this "quarantine" with laser-focus on the Lord and living according to His perfect vision for us.
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