The First Forty

17 The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered. 20 The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind. 22 Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark. 24 And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days. (Genesis 7)
A lot of people in our area had their plans ruined yesterday by sudden downpours.  The forecast for the next few days looks similar. For many in our are, they have had enough rain for awhile. Imagine the days of Noah: 40 days and nights.  Of all the 40s in the Bible, it is the first and most memorable. But it was also not the end of the story: "The waters prevailed on the earth 150 days." The flooding was more than a few days.  What was God doing? Preparing the earth for a fresh start, a new beginning of sorts. Often, that's what the forties of the Bible were for: preparing.  Whether it is lent or forty days of prayer, or whatever: the end of the 40 is not the end, but the beginning of what is being prepared for: change.  What needs to change in our lives? Will it take 40 days to erase an old habit or begin a new? Or is it more like forty years?  It matters not. What matters is "let the forty begin"; it has to start sometime, or change will never take place. Start the forty. Prepare for change; may it last for all time.