Matthew 4:1-11 is a well-known story of Jesus in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. He is led into the wilderness (the desert) by the Holy Spirit, where he then fasts for 40 days. Spending 40 days in the wilderness is a common theme throughout the Bible. The wilderness was used as a place of preparation and waiting for God’s next move. We see this in the story of Noah’s ark, Moses on Mount Sinai, Elijah fasting in the desert (1 Kings 9:8), and finally the Israelites wandering in the wilderness on their way to the Promise Land. In this last case, it was 40 years in the wilderness. All of these people waited for 40 days before receiving a new covenant or commission from God.
In our text for today, Jesus is the wilderness for the same purpose: to become prepared for his ministry. Remember, in the previous chapter, Jesus was just baptized. Now he is about to start his ministry, but he needs to be prepared first. After his 40 days fasting, praying, and preparing, he is tested. In each of these tests, he passes with flying colors. He responds to the devil’s out-of-context Scripture verses with the right verses. And afterward, angels, God’s messengers, come and take care of him.
Can you think of something else that is 40 days in the wilderness? I’ll give you a hint: it’s what we’re doing right now. The season of Lent lasts 40 days. In the early church, Lent was a time of fasting and intense learning for new Christians who would then be baptized on Easter morning. In other words, Lent is 40 days of preparation and waiting for God’s next move. What are some ways that you might make yourself ready for God’s next move? What is God’s next move in your life? Do you even need to know what it is? This week I would like to invite you to listen to God. This doesn’t have to be fasting. It could be taking some time away for a few minutes each day to listen to God or meditate. It could be doing Lectio Divina once a week or meeting with a small group. Try out a few different things and see what works best for you.
