The British writer and broadcaster Alex Bellos took a survey a few years back asking the public what their favourite number was. The question, asked to online participants, saw more than thirty thousand responses in just a few weeks. Of the thousands of people who took part, more than half of them chose a number between one and ten. The most popular number?
Seven.
Bellos has a theory as to why seven got the most votes – it’s frequent appearances in global culture. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Seven deadly sins. Seven days of the week. James Bond – 007!
Looking through the Bible, we find seven days of creation. After the flood survived by Noah and his family on board the ark, God’s sign that he will never again send a disaster on the earth like that one is the rainbow. Which of course has seven colours.
If the writers of the Bible were asked for their favourite number, they may well have gone for seven themselves.
There is however a distinct chance that ’40’ would have got a good look in as well.
The Bible tells us that the rain fell on Noah (him again) for forty days and nights. When the Israelites escaped captivity in Egypt they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Abdon, one of the Judges in Old Testament times, had forty sons.
Forty is also the number of days that the Gospel of Matthew records Jesus as being in the wilderness praying and fasting and being tested. Before he began his preaching, teaching and healing ministry, Jesus spent some time preparing himself for what lay ahead.
It’s the reason we mark Lent, forty day that leads up to Easter. In this time Christians have traditionally given up various thing. Some have make a change in diet, stopping drinking coffee or eating sweets. Others commit to pray more often, or make space to read their bibles.
Although Lent has already begun, and Easter is just a few short weeks away, there’s still time to learn a little more about Jesus, the events of his life, what they mean for us, and how it all adds up. Whatever your favourite number.