The Milestone of 30....
What is it about the age of 30 that marks such a milestone in so many people's lives? I have known twenty-somethings who have absolutely dreaded turning thirty years old, as if when the clock struck midnight their bodies would just start falling apart and it was all going to be downhill from there! We celebrate with special birthdays and tend to make a little bit of a bigger deal out of this particular day. I know many people who set very specific goals for themselves by the time they have reached this age. "By the time I turn thirty, I want to...."
I think for some people it might be a dreaded time because of unmet goals and the realization that, "Holy cow, I really am an adult now and maybe I have to start acting like it!" I, personally, couldn't wait to reach my thirties, because I had a plan that looked really great to me for this decade. (And then God came along and said, "Hahahaha....not exactly.") Haha. We know all about making our own plans around here, don't we? :) My husband recently turned thirty himself, marking the completion of just about most of my closest peers entering into this decade of life.
But maybe there's a little something more to turning thirty than just a cultural sort of right of passage. Maybe thirty is a number that is ingrained in us far deeper than we realize or could possibly know. The age of thirty is used time and time again throughout scripture to mark huge milestones in the lives of our most well-known biblical heroes. Just for fun, let's take a look today at the significance of the age of thirty in scripture.
Way back in Genesis, word got out to Pharaoh that a young imprisoned Hebrew boy possessed a unique ability to interpret dreams, and after some crazy dreams of his own, Pharaoh was desperate for someone, anyone, to tell him what they meant....
"Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh." Genesis 41:14
Many of you know what happened next. Joseph (the one with that coat of many colors) did in fact interpret the dreams, and even gave Pharaoh advice on how to handle his situation. He gained much favor in the eyes of Pharaoh, and Joseph ended up becoming second in command of all of Egypt! This was a game-changing, life-changing, unbelievable turn of events in this young man's life.
"Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh the king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presences of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt." Genesis 41:46
Though he never could of expected it in his wildest dreams, this was not a bad gig for Joseph as he entered his thirties!
David might be one of the most decorated bible heroes of the Old Testament. From toddlerhood, many children hear of the story of David and Goliath. And, poor guy, while he did many great things, he never was able to shake that whole Bathsheba ordeal. David began his life as a mere shepherd boy. He was minding his own business and doing as he was told the day that Goliath meeting changed the course of his life forever, and after running from King Saul for what seemed like an eternity, eventually David was made king himself. From shepherd boy to king!
"David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and reigned forty years." 2 Samuel 5:4
Another ruler established by God at thirty years old.
Ezekiel was thirty when God called him out as a prophet...
"Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God." Ezekiel 1:1
In the Old Testament, priests entered into service at the age of 30, too. "From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle if the congregation." Numbers 4:3
Isn't is crazy how often God called out ordinary people, from humble beginnings, some even prisoners at the time, when they were thirty years old to do His work?
Of course it doesn't end there. John the Baptist (about six months older than Jesus) was thirty years old when he began paving the way for his cousin to begin his ministry. I don't know why I always picture him as an older, middle-aged guy (maybe it's all that wild hair, haha) but nope - 30.
And then the biggest of all - Jesus himself. He spent most of his life living a modest lifestyle, working in his family's carpentry business, and then....
"Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph." Luke 3:23
...next thing you know he's healing the sick, walking on water, and dying on the cross just three short years later.
Thirty isn't just a significant number in age. We see 30 days, groups of 30 people, and even Jesus being sold for 30 pieces of silver as running themes throughout scripture. Even time is divided into approximately 30 day groups.
So...what is it about thirty?! There is a lot of thought that the age of 30 is, in the eyes of God, a sign of physical and mental maturity. People are ready for leadership at this age. It's a time to step out of childhood and youth and into adulthood. Maybe that's why we all feel the significance of this age when it comes...because it's embedded in our hearts by our creator to feel it's significance. That doesn't mean that people who are younger than 30 or even significantly older cannot be used by God and called out to do great things - far from it! But if I have learned one thing from studying this age in scripture, it's not to dread it, because clearly it's a respected age in the eyes of God!
While my thirties have definitely not turned out the way I had planned them so far, God has been growing me and speaking to me in a very real way since reaching this age. I can personally testify that when someone is open to being used and taught by God, he often waits until this age to really burst them forth in spiritual maturity. So if you are reading this today as someone who very recently turned 30 or is about to, watch out! :) It's a very significant time for use and refinement! Many people, whether they heed the call or not, feel a call to ministry around this age. Could God be calling you to something more?
I'm sure we could do studies on every age and number under the sun! I love the stories of people who didn't begin doing the work they were known for until they were well into a ripe old age. I think that is an incredible testament to the fact that it is NEVER too late to be used by God. But where are my thirty-somethings at today?! If this age was significant for Joseph, and David, and Ezekiel, and J the B, and Jesus Christ, and probably many more that I'm overlooking, then it might just be significant for you, too. How is God speaking to you today? I encourage you to pray, search the scriptures, and find out! There might be a message waiting just for you there. :)
Have a great one!
I think for some people it might be a dreaded time because of unmet goals and the realization that, "Holy cow, I really am an adult now and maybe I have to start acting like it!" I, personally, couldn't wait to reach my thirties, because I had a plan that looked really great to me for this decade. (And then God came along and said, "Hahahaha....not exactly.") Haha. We know all about making our own plans around here, don't we? :) My husband recently turned thirty himself, marking the completion of just about most of my closest peers entering into this decade of life.
But maybe there's a little something more to turning thirty than just a cultural sort of right of passage. Maybe thirty is a number that is ingrained in us far deeper than we realize or could possibly know. The age of thirty is used time and time again throughout scripture to mark huge milestones in the lives of our most well-known biblical heroes. Just for fun, let's take a look today at the significance of the age of thirty in scripture.
Way back in Genesis, word got out to Pharaoh that a young imprisoned Hebrew boy possessed a unique ability to interpret dreams, and after some crazy dreams of his own, Pharaoh was desperate for someone, anyone, to tell him what they meant....
"Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh." Genesis 41:14
Many of you know what happened next. Joseph (the one with that coat of many colors) did in fact interpret the dreams, and even gave Pharaoh advice on how to handle his situation. He gained much favor in the eyes of Pharaoh, and Joseph ended up becoming second in command of all of Egypt! This was a game-changing, life-changing, unbelievable turn of events in this young man's life.
"Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh the king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presences of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt." Genesis 41:46
Though he never could of expected it in his wildest dreams, this was not a bad gig for Joseph as he entered his thirties!
David might be one of the most decorated bible heroes of the Old Testament. From toddlerhood, many children hear of the story of David and Goliath. And, poor guy, while he did many great things, he never was able to shake that whole Bathsheba ordeal. David began his life as a mere shepherd boy. He was minding his own business and doing as he was told the day that Goliath meeting changed the course of his life forever, and after running from King Saul for what seemed like an eternity, eventually David was made king himself. From shepherd boy to king!
"David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and reigned forty years." 2 Samuel 5:4
Another ruler established by God at thirty years old.
Ezekiel was thirty when God called him out as a prophet...
"Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God." Ezekiel 1:1
In the Old Testament, priests entered into service at the age of 30, too. "From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle if the congregation." Numbers 4:3
Isn't is crazy how often God called out ordinary people, from humble beginnings, some even prisoners at the time, when they were thirty years old to do His work?
Of course it doesn't end there. John the Baptist (about six months older than Jesus) was thirty years old when he began paving the way for his cousin to begin his ministry. I don't know why I always picture him as an older, middle-aged guy (maybe it's all that wild hair, haha) but nope - 30.
And then the biggest of all - Jesus himself. He spent most of his life living a modest lifestyle, working in his family's carpentry business, and then....
"Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph." Luke 3:23
...next thing you know he's healing the sick, walking on water, and dying on the cross just three short years later.
Thirty isn't just a significant number in age. We see 30 days, groups of 30 people, and even Jesus being sold for 30 pieces of silver as running themes throughout scripture. Even time is divided into approximately 30 day groups.
So...what is it about thirty?! There is a lot of thought that the age of 30 is, in the eyes of God, a sign of physical and mental maturity. People are ready for leadership at this age. It's a time to step out of childhood and youth and into adulthood. Maybe that's why we all feel the significance of this age when it comes...because it's embedded in our hearts by our creator to feel it's significance. That doesn't mean that people who are younger than 30 or even significantly older cannot be used by God and called out to do great things - far from it! But if I have learned one thing from studying this age in scripture, it's not to dread it, because clearly it's a respected age in the eyes of God!
While my thirties have definitely not turned out the way I had planned them so far, God has been growing me and speaking to me in a very real way since reaching this age. I can personally testify that when someone is open to being used and taught by God, he often waits until this age to really burst them forth in spiritual maturity. So if you are reading this today as someone who very recently turned 30 or is about to, watch out! :) It's a very significant time for use and refinement! Many people, whether they heed the call or not, feel a call to ministry around this age. Could God be calling you to something more?
I'm sure we could do studies on every age and number under the sun! I love the stories of people who didn't begin doing the work they were known for until they were well into a ripe old age. I think that is an incredible testament to the fact that it is NEVER too late to be used by God. But where are my thirty-somethings at today?! If this age was significant for Joseph, and David, and Ezekiel, and J the B, and Jesus Christ, and probably many more that I'm overlooking, then it might just be significant for you, too. How is God speaking to you today? I encourage you to pray, search the scriptures, and find out! There might be a message waiting just for you there. :)
Have a great one!
Oh, 30 didn't scare me. I was excited for it. I feel (relatively) more grounded in life and who I am. I don't know that I would have expected to be where I am in my 30s either but, the journey has been fun! Can't wait to see where God takes me in my next decades!
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