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Daily Devotions

40 Days and 40 Nights

40 Days and 40 Nights 
Day 
Day 13

"Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights."

Text: Exodus 24:18

40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS

The Gospels noted that Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness. We are reminded of Moses the man of God who spent a similar amount of time with God in Mount Sinai. The similarity must be noted. The Scriptures recorded the reason why God called Moses to devote so much time in Mount Sinai.

“Then the LORD said to Moses,
‘Come up to Me on the mountain and be there;
and I will give you tablets of stone,
and the law and commandments which I have written,
that you may teach them.'”
Exodus 24:12

1. “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there”

a) This was an express commandment.
b) Moses understood this and he complied.
c) This sojourn was deemed necessary.

2. “And I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments”

a) God would personally teach Moses.
b) He would give Moses His commandments.
c) Moses must not assume that he knows the commandments of God.
i) Many deep and important lessons must be learned.
ii) These lessons would be of great significance to the nation of Israel.
iii) These lessons would form the foundation of the faith of Israel.
iv) Moses must learn them well first and personally.

3. “That you may teach them”

a) This was the ultimate task.
b) Moses must teach the children of Israel the commandments of God.
c) He would have to teach with authority.
d) The children of Israel were not easy to teach at all.

THE SIMILARITIES

The similarities of the teaching ministry of Moses and the Lord Jesus must be noted.

1. Jesus too must be thoroughly equipped with the Word of God.

2. The 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness would allow Him to fully fathom His teaching ministry.

3. An extensive sojourn of communing with God would have spectacular significance for life and ministry.