Yesterday we were discussing why God limited the number of lashes during a flogging to 40.
The reason why is because God in His wisdom decreed that to flog a person more than that would be too excessive and lead to bitterness instead of repentance.
What’s interesting is we can find this exact same principle in the Brit.
Check out the following verse from the Book of Ephesians.
“Fathers, don’t irritate your children
and make them resentful;
instead, raise them with the
Lord’s kind of discipline and guidance.”
-Ephesians 6:4
There’s another fascinating connection here I’d like to share with you…
…and it has to do with the Biblical numerological meaning of “40”.
Note the following pattern we see in the Scriptures.
The Great Flood of which only Noah and his family survived lasted for a total of 40 days and nights.
When the flood ended, Noah waited for again a total of forty days and nights before he released a raven
When spies were sent from Moses to explore the Promised Land, they were sent for a period of a total of forty days and nights.
When Moses went up to the top of Mount Sinai to receive God’s Torah, he was up there for a total of 40 days and nights.
When God sent the prophet Jonah to the people of Nineveh, the allotted time given them to repent and receive deliverance was a total of 40 days and nights.
When Messiah Yeshua was tempted by the devil, it lasted for a total of 40 days and nights.
So what inherent pattern or principle can we discern from all these incidents of 40 days and 40 nights?
Here’s the takeaway.
40 days represents an intense period of trial or preparation.
For those who hold to the faith and successfully get through the 40 days of testing, deliverance awaits.
On the other hand, for those who lose faith and decide to throw in the towel during this period of testing, judgement awaits.
To conclude, the spiritual reason why a flogging is NOT to exceed 40 lashes is because it is be a “trial” for the criminal that is meant to ultimately change his behavior and NOT kill or bring him to destruction.
So we can see the Lord’s kindness, love and wisdom is even present when He punishes us.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“As for me,
I rebuke and discipline
everyone I love;
so exert yourselves,
and turn from your sins!”
-Revelations 3:19
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