Does the number 40 mean anything to you–especially in regard to the Bible?
It is 40 days until Christmas from the day this blog post goes live (November 15).
This is not an admonition to get busy. It’s actually a reflection on the number 40 and how often it appears in the Bible.
Some friends and I recently were tasked with praying for 40 days.
We don’t know why God directed us to do so.
Even as I pray, watch, wait, and ponder, I’ve been thinking about the number.
Familiar Bible passages linked to 40 days and years
What comes to mind?
Noah and his family “sailing” on the ark. (Genesis 7:17)
Moses’ life–40 years in Egypt, the same in the Median desert, and also in the promised land.
The spies inspecting the Promised Land. (Numbers 13:25)
Jesus’ days in the Wilderness after being baptized. (Matthew 4)
The number of days Jesus walked with his disciples after his resurrection. (Acts 1:3)
Guess how many days Goliath taunted the Israelites? (1 Samuel 17:16)
Three kings ruled Israel for 40 years–David, Solomon, and even Saul.
Other curious examples of 40 in the Bible.
Guido Reni, (Wikimedia Commons)
Here’s a run down:
- It’s the number of people who wrote the 66 books in the Bible.
- Moses met with God on Mt. Sinai two different times for that many days.
- The number of years Eli judged Israel.
- The number of righteous men Abraham started with when asking God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah.
- Jonah prophesy of Nineveh’s destruction if they didn’t repent in that number of days.
- The number of chapters in the book of Exodus.
- Ezekiel lay on his right side for 40 days. (Ezekiel 4:6)
- At least five judges served Israel for that length of years: Othniel, Deborah and Barak, Eli, and Gideon.
So, what does it mean?
Patterns are always interesting.
For Noah, Moses, Jesus, and the Goliath-terrorized Israelites, the number of days corresponded with major testing.
Noah may have been preparing for 100 years for the moment of launch, but once it began to rain–who knew what would happen?
Moses’ life divided neatly in thirds, with significant testing in each–though it was the last 80 years that saw him walking with God in all matters.
Many commentators believe the number 40 is a sign of testing.
(Hmm, what happened to me when I was 40 years old? Ah, major spiritual and emotional testing!)
Certainly, you can see that connotation in the people’s lives listed above.
It also, however, can correlate to other things.
Four and Ten; Eight and Five
For those who remember math, forty equals four times ten, or eight times five.
An entire “school” of Biblical numerology can provide some insight.
Painting by James Tissot (Wikimedia Commons)
This comes from Mary Fairchild’s post at LearnReligions.com
According to Fairchild, the number four relates to the earth. You know, seasons, directions, Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13 about the four different types of soil.
Ten corresponds to human governments and the Law. Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city to judge.
You’re familiar with the ten commandments.
Since forty equals ten times four–what can we conclude?
Law and earth? How things are done on earth? Does it map with the above verses about Noah, Abraham, and Nineveh?
What about eight and five?
As Fairchild explained: “The number eight may signify new beginnings, although many scholars don’t attribute any symbolic meaning to this number.”
(Eight people survived the flood; circumcision takes place on the eighth day–again a new beginning.)
Hey, numerology was not a gift from God; we’re just looking for patterns here–so it may not apply at all.
Five?
“Five is a number associated with grace.” She noted there were five Levitical offerings and Jesus multiplied five loaves of bread to feed 5000 men.
Another idea–the grace of new beginnings.
What does it mean to me and my friends called to watch and pray for 40 days?
We worship a God who asks us to trust Him and when He asks us to watch and pray, we need to do so.
I don’t know what will happen, in our case on December 8.
It may be personal.
It may be bigger.
But I’m going with trust that God will be doing a good work full of grace and new beginnings. These days may be full of testing.
Or they may not.
Something may happen on the earth. Or perhaps in my heart?
Regardless, we worship a God of love, truth, holiness, and joy.
Thanks be to God.
Tweetables
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Interesting study, Michelle. Thanks for the research. My age right now is 40X2+2, for whatever that means.
Wisdom, Sam. Wisdom.
In 2 months I will have completed 40×2 + 5, and begin living and walking in year 86 on this Earth which the Triune God of Creation made and formed in and by and thru His Son, Jesus Christ.
What a great life, creation to enjoy, and friendship plus Fellowship with Almighty God and His Divine Eternal Son, Jesus ! And now we have The 3 living within us, the Third is the Powerful Ruach Akodesh, the Magnificent Holy Spirit Himself ! Gloria.
Lately I have been pondering as to what and where will we be doing and living and moving about, our Divine purpose and assignments, during our 1000 years of beautiful and healthy life
on Earth with King Jesus as head of our Government in Jerusalem.
I see us worshipping and praying and teaching and preaching, and witnessing for Christ in many countries and languages. But aside from that, I am not sure about other plans Christ has for us. Any Spiritual ideas ?
A great question, Chaplain Mike, but I do not know the answer. (Surprise!)
We worship a God who is good, all the time, and I trust Him to use me (and you) in eternity for His purposes.
It seems to me the doubts and the accusations, the idea that heaven will be boring (with harps), doesn’t come from God but from the accuser who is not to be trusted.
So, I believe that God has me on this earth for His purposes and I’ll be here until my work here is done.
How God defines my “work” may not be what I would call work.
My own father lived in a near-vegetable state the last year of his life and yet those months had purpose. They allowed for others to come to terms with him and his legacy. Others needed that time.
Simply staying alive was sufficient “work” for him.
Writing about Biddy Chambers, frankly, helped me see that.
So, as to the future? I focus on “no more sorrow, no more pain.”
Though, I wouldn’t mind learning how to play a harp. 🙂
We see through the mirror dimly. Because God hasn’t laid out heaven, doesn’t mean there isn’t a plan.
It just means I don’t know what it is.
Randy Alcorn’s book Heaven, by the way, was very helpful to put my mind at rest.
Blessings to you and thank you for blessing me with your words this morning.