I keep seeing listicles pop up on my Facebook feed. "40 Best Movies of All Time." "40 Most Underrated Actors." "40 Things That Make Everyone Smile." "40 Little-Known Facts About Friends." It goes on and on. Why 40? I have no idea, but 40 seems to be the perfect listicle number. It's also an important number in the Bible — according to several sources, the number 40 is used nearly 150 times in the Old and New Testaments. Some examples: Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days and nights. The Jewish people fleeing bondage in Egypt wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Noah and his family were in the ark for 40 days and nights of the flood. There were 40 days and 40 nights of fasting while Moses was on Mount Sinai. Jonah was given 40 days to convert the people of Nineveh. Saul, David, and Solomon reigned 40 years each. The limit of whip strikes one could receive in the Old Testament as punishment was 40. In years, 40 is about the length of one generation.
Often, but not always, the number 40 was about testing and times of trial. The difficulty of determining the exact meaning of the use of the number is virtually impossible, but it was used often as a symbol of testing or tribulation. Whether you intentionally challenge yourself with the traditional Lenten practice of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving or not, I think the symbolism of 40 days connects to our current reality as Americans.
As I write this, we are just about at the 40-day mark of the Trump administration. Some have found an ally in his administration and are happy with many of the decisions made thus far. Others have found — once again, or for the first time — a strong and proud voice of resistance from within, and are now actively holding the administration accountable for decisions they vehemently stand against. Still others are confused and concerned, but are unsure how to proceed and process their feelings about these 40 days and 40 nights.
There has been an explosion of feelings expressed on social media and on the streets of our nation these past 40 days. Many times these feelings have been as peaceful and profound statements of either support or resistance. Many times, these feelings have overflowed into debates on cable news shows, dinners with family, and in town hall gatherings with elected representatives.
The temptation is to stand so strongly against another set of beliefs that you cannot even see the humanity of the “other” in the conversation. The temptation is to lash out at ideas that are contrary to those we hold so dearly in our hearts and minds. The temptation is fight or flight, instead of stay and engage.
In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus is in the wilderness, preparing for the role he is about to undertake through his public ministry. He is alone but is visited by Satan as a three-fold test — which is a more accurate translation than what we understand as temptation. Resisting the test means he can do what he’s called to do without “pulling rank.” It means he can live into the Son of God status while trusting that God will take care of his needs. And it means that he can complete his calling without taking a shortcut to power or prestige, which was not in God’s plan for his mission. These are powerful “tests” of his faith and missional calling. And he passes each and every one of them.
How hard it must have been to resist those tests in the wilderness. Jesus was fasting and was hungry, but he refused to turn stones into bread. He was likely worried about his future suffering, but he did not ask for special treatment or protection from God. He was aware of the role to come, but he resisted grabbing power before his time. He was subjected to human suffering, pain, and testing, but he resisted giving up or giving in. He did not react or overreact to his circumstances. He relied on his faith, God, and his training. He responded with readings from the Torah. He responded with teachings from Deuteronomy 6-8. He knew how to respond to tests.
The test today is to not overreact, but to be willing to act for justice and intolerance without denigrating the other. The test is to support your positions without giving into the fear. The test is to find grace in those tests when we are certain we are right and others are wrong, by listening — really listening — to find moments of connection.
It does not mean making a listicle of the 40 types of people we hate, or want to keep out, or don’t trust. It does not mean making a listicle of the phobias and fears people experience as refugees, LGBTQIA persons, Muslims, Jews, immigrants, older people, Millennials, gender-fluid persons, or some other element of faith, birth, religion, or culture that can be used to separate us.
The test today is to disagree, march, post, or resist those things that we see as injustice and inequality, but not to be intolerant of those who hold those beliefs without conversation, listening, and engaging first. We can hold one another accountable and we can hold our government officials accountable, but giving in to the test of this time by hating or belittling others is not the answer.
Via ON Scripture.
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