40 Something

This is first time the number 40 comes up in the Torah portion but as we will see beloved HaShem has a lot to teach us regarding the number 40. Every time we see it used we see a transformation taking place. Moses was several times on the mountain 40 days, the Jews were led by G*D in the desert 40 years, the spies traveled the length of the land for 40 days, both Solomon and David ruled for 40 years,as did the great judge Devorah. We just went through a transformation ourselves in the 40 days from the first of Elul till Yom Kipper.

In this weeks parsha we see it raining 40 days and 40 nights.There is a minimum of 40 seahs of water in a kosher mikvah. Immersing oneself in the mikvah transforms us from a state of impurity to a state of purity. And so it was with the world in the time of Noah. The world had fallen into a state of impurity. Midrash says it was the impurity of mans speech that lowered him to a level that grieved HaShem's heart to the point that He felt the need for its purification.

40 is also the value of the letter mem, which means water. The Torah is often referred to as water. In the future the flood will be a positive concept, the earth will be flooded with the knowledge of G*D. The Torah will fill the earth just as the water covers the seabed, with the love of G*D flowing forth like water.

It remains to be seen who will rebuild the third Temple, some say Mashiach, some say man. It is interesting to note that the height of the entrance to the Sanctuary of the Temple measures 40 cubits. It will be a time of transformation for all of G*D's creation. May it happen speedily,and soon in our days.

HaShem always gives us a cure. Another meaning for the word ark is word, just as the ark had the power to save Noah, HaShem's Words have the power to save us. One of my favorite verses in The Holy Scriptures is taken from Isaiah, yes you guessed it, chapter 40.
"Lift up your eyes and see who created you, no one is missing, He gives the tired strength, those who put their hope in the L*rd will raise up wings as eagles, run and not weary, walk and not tire." Many times the use of wings in scripture means spiritual truths, may HaShem open our eyes to His Spiritual Truth beloved.

Yeshayahu- Isaiah - Chapter 40

Chapter 40
1. "Console, console My people," says your G*d. א.
2. Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and call to her, for she has become full [from] her host, for her iniquity has been appeased, for she has taken from the hand of the L*rd double for all her sins. ב.
3. A voice calls, "In the desert, clear the way of the L*rd, straighten out in the wilderness, a highway for our G*d." ג.
4. Every valley shall be raised, and every mountain and hill shall be lowered, and the crooked terrain shall become a plain and the close mountains a champaigne. ד.
5. And the glory of the L*rd shall be revealed, and all flesh together shall see that the mouth of the L*rd spoke. ה.
6. A voice says, "Call!" and it says, "What shall I call?" "All flesh is grass, and all its kindness is like the blossom of the field. ו.
7. The grass shall dry out, the blossom shall wilt, for a wind from the L*rd has blown upon it; behold the people is grass. ז.
8. The grass shall dry out, the blossom shall wilt, but the word of our G*d shall last forever. ח.
9. Upon a lofty mountain ascend, O herald of Zion, raise your voice with strength, O herald of Jerusalem; raise [your voice], fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your G*d!" ט.
10. Behold the L*rd G*d shall come with a strong [hand], and His arm rules for Him; behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense is before Him. י.
11. Like a shepherd [who] tends his flock, with his arm he gathers lambs, and in his bosom he carries [them], the nursing ones he leads. יא.
12. Who measured water with his gait, and measured the heavens with his span, and measured by thirds the dust of the earth, and weighed mountains with a scale and hills with a balance? יב.
13. Who meted the spirit of the L*rd, and His adviser who informs Him? יג.
14. With whom did He take counsel give him to understand, and teach him in the way of justice, and teach him knowledge, and the way of understandings did He let him know? יד.
15. Behold the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and like dust on a balance are they counted; behold the islands are like fine [dust] that blows away. טו.
16. And the Lebanon-there is not enough to burn, and its beasts-there is not enough for burnt offerings. טז.
17. All the nations are as nought before Him; as things of nought and vanity are they regarded by Him. יז.
18. And to whom do you compare G*d, and what likeness do you arrange for Him? יח.
19. The graven image, the craftsman has melted, and the smith plates it with gold, and chains of silver he attaches. יט.
20. He who is accustomed to select, chooses a tree that does not rot; he seeks for himself a skilled craftsman, to prepare a graven image, which will not move. כ.
21. Do you not know, have you not heard has it not been told to you from the beginning? Do you not understand the foundations of the earth? כא.
22. It is He Who sits above the circle of the earth, and whose inhabitants are like grasshoppers, who stretches out the heaven like a curtain, and He spread them out like a tent to dwell. כב.
23. Who brings princes to nought, judges of the land He made like a thing of nought. כג.
24. Even [as though] they were not planted, even [as though] they were not sown, even [as though] their trunk was not rooted in the earth; and also He blew on them, and they dried up, and a tempest shall carry them away like straw. כד.
25. "Now, to whom will you compare Me that I should be equal?" says the Holy One. כה.
26. Lift up your eyes on high and see, who created these, who takes out their host by number; all of them He calls by name; because of His great might and because He is strong in power, no one is missing. כו.
27. Why should you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way has been hidden from the L*rd, and from my G*d, my judgment passes"? כז.
28. Do you not know-if you have not heard-an everlasting God is the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth; He neither tires nor wearies; there is no fathoming His understanding. כח.
29. Who gives the tired strength, and to him who has no strength, He increases strength. כט.
30. Now youths shall become tired and weary, and young men shall stumble. ל.
31. But those who put their hope in the L*rd shall renew [their] vigor, they shall raise wings as eagles; they shall run and not weary, they shall walk and not tire.

Shabbat Shalom, Elizabeth