THE NUMBER 40 AND ITS POWER

 Let us see how the number 40 is seen in the Word of Elohim. Some people give much power to this number. Some feel they are very religious when they fast for 40 days. I want to find out for myself if there is anything we should learn from applying the number 40 to our lives. 

 I read a weekly Bible study that mentioned the twelve spies that were sent to the Promised Land. They were twelve men, one of each tribe of Yisra’el, and walked the land for 40 days. However, even though they found the land to be very fruitful, ten of the men gave a bad report. They became afraid of the people in the land. Only Joshua and Caleb, who also went to spy the land, had a good report and wanted to go to possess the land.

“There we saw the giants (the sons of Anak, who come from the giants), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” Bemidbar/Numbers 13:33

They really did not trust Yehovah.

And all Israel complained against Mosheh/Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them,   “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has Yehovah brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” Bemidbar/Numbers 14:2-3

Yehovah heard their words and gave them their desire. They all died in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb and the young generation after the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, eventually entered and conquered the Promised Land.

What I want to concentrate now on the number 40 which is used many times the in the Scriptures. So far this number does not have a good reputation.

What is the significance or importance in the number 40 in this account? What could have been a blessing became a curse to them. They chose not to believe their Elohim, and relay only in their own strength which is nothing compared to His ability and His Word.  They forgot the miracle He did for them. Many of us are all guilty of this same thing. We could have been blessed if we had trusted Him, but we shrank back of the calling.

And now let us see what meaning we can give to the number 40 in the next account we read in the Scriptures.  

Moses was twice on the mountain of Sinai 40 days and nights.

“So Mosheh/Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Mosheh was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Shemoth/Exodus 24:18

There He received instructions from Yehovah for each of us.

Later on we learn the Mosheh went to the Mount of Yehovah, the second time on Sinai, and fasted food and water 40 days and 40 nights. At that time he received the Ten Commandments. (Shemoth 34:28)

This number 40 has a different meaning, if we want to give any significance to it.

 Mosheh went to be in the presence of Yehovah on Mount Sinai and He did not eat or drink for 40 days.

Both of His visits to the mountain have been very beneficial for all of us. Can you imagine being in the presence of Yehovah for such long time and your body does not longer need any food or water for such long time?

Maybe we should stay in His presence more often! 

The number 40 is also used in building the Tabernacle, as you read the chapters 26-36 of Shemoth/Exodus.

Now I want to mention another 40 days.

“And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.” Shemu’el 1/1 Samuel 17:16

The 40^th day David killed Goliath the Philistine.

Shemu’el 1.1 Samuel 17:49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

One man, who had been trained by Yehovah while serving his father as a shepherd, killed Goliath, the enemy of Israel. (See Shemu’el 1/1 Samuel 17:37)

All Yehovah needs is a man who trusts Him to win the frets of the enemy.

Yeshua was tempted also 40 days and nights.

“Then Yeshua was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of Elohim, command that these stones become bread.” Mattithyahu/Matthew 4:1-3

It seems that the number 40 is the number of testing and victories. Most times the victory came after 40 days. The spies should have gone into the Promised Land. But they lacked trust. They felt unable to accomplish such task.  They did not yet understand the power of their Elohim. They had been too long in Egypt been oppressed as slaves and serving their gods. They also forgot the mighty miracles Yehovah did to deliver them. They walked in the natural, but Yehovah is not a natural man, He is the Creator of man and knows how to defeat anyone who dares to come against Him or his Chosen People.  Fear is the cause of failure. But when Yehovah gives a command we must obey and we will be victorious.

40 also speak to us of judgment. He sent the flood,

Bereshith/Genesis 7:17, 24, Now the flood was on the earth 40 days. 24 And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days.

And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen. Bereshith/Genesis 8:5

So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noach opened the window of the ark which he had made. Then he sent a raven. Bereshith/Genesis 8:6

 Yehovah judged mankind. They all died except for Noach and his family who had not been contaminated. The pure seed that the Mashiach would be born was preserved. Therefore although He destroyed the sinners, it also was fruitful for our salvation.

Then we saw Goliath who tested Israel. But after 40 days Israel was delivered by Yehovah through a single man whose name is David.  The enemy was destroyed. David trusted Yehovah to deliver Israel, and He did!  

The Son of Yehovah, the Son of Man, Yehoshua HaMashiach, the promised Savior, was tested before He entered into His ministry. Satan came to Him when He was hungry, but lost. Yeshua was victorious.

And now how can we describe the number 40? Should we trust this number to give us victories?

We cannot give power to any number. The power belongs only to Yehovah. However, if you feel Yehovah is calling you to a time of fasting for the length of 40 days, go forth and be victorious. However, do not put your trust in the number 40 but in Him alone. See Yeshayahu/Isaiah 58 for guidance. Our faith must be in Yehovah and in Yehoshua finished work on the cross. Learn from David, he trust Yehovah, not the five stones in his packet!