Genesis 25:19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Genesis 26:34 When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite,35 and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.
Forty was a monumental year for these twins, and for others in the Bible as well: Moses, Joshua, Ishbosheth, etc. When they hit forty, things really began to change. Sometimes getting there is a problem; often getting there well is one. It is not that all of a sudden the light comes on, but that those forty years were building years preparing these men for a test. Would they turn to the Lord, follow the Lord, and seek to please the Lord, or would they turn their own way, the world's way, and bring grief and shame to themselves and their families. Forty years - or even forty days - invested well can get us moving in the right direction. In a society that never wants to wait, that can be difficult, but it is worth the investment and the persistence. Prayer is like that. Not always easy. But forty days can prepare the way for great things. Just ask Jesus.
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