The Significance of the Number 40

We are walking in today:  The Significance of the Number 40

Witness prove throughout the Bible:  H5254 nacah-- to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put
to the proof or test

Psalms 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove H5254 me; try my reins and my heart.


The Torah....................
Exodus 16:4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove H5254 them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

The prophets................
Daniel 1:12 Prove H5254 thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

The writings.............
Judges 6:39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, H5254 I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let
there be dew.

Ecclesiastes 7:23 All this have I proved H5254 by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

Of all the types and shadows of the Old Testament, none is as pervasive and important as the shadows revealed in the relationship between "forty," and the fulfillment of promises.

The rains (in Noah's day) fell for 40 days and nights (Genesis 7:4).
Israel ate Manna for 40 years (Exodus 16:35).
Moses was with the Most High in the mount, 40 days and nights (Exodus 24:18).
Moses was again with the Most High 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 34:28).
Moses led Israel from Egypt at age 80 (2 times 40), and after 40 years in the wilderness, died at 120 (3 times 40; Deuteronomy 34:7).
The spies searched the land of Canaan for 40 days (Numbers 13:25).
Therefore, the Most High made Israel wander for 40 years (Numbers 14:33-34).
40 stripes was the maximum whipping penalty (Deuteronomy 25:3).
The Most High allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 3:11).
The Most High again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 5:31).
The Most High again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 8:28).
Abdon (a judge in Israel) had 40 sons (Judges 12:14).
Israel did evil; the Most High gave them to an enemy for 40 years (Judges 13:1).
Eli judged Israel for 40 years (1 Samuel 4:18).
Goliath presented himself to Israel for 40 days (1 Samuel 17:16).
Saul reigned for 40 years (Acts 13:21).
Ishbosheth (Saul's son) was 40 when he began reign (2 Samuel 2:10).
David reigned over Israel for 40 years (2 Samuel 5:4, 1 Kings 2:11).
The holy place of the temple was 40 cubits long (1 Kings 6:17).
40 baths (measurement) was size of lavers in Temple (1 Kings 7:38).
The sockets of silver are in groups of 40 (Exodus 26:19 & 21).
Solomon reigned same length as his father; 40 years (1 Kings 11:42).
Elijah had one meal that gave him strength 40 days (1 Kings 19:8).
Ezekiel bore the iniquity of the house of Judah for 40 days (Ezekiel 4:6).
Jehoash (Joash) reigned 40 years in Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:1).
Egypt to be laid desolate for 40 years (Ezekiel 29:11-12).
Ezekiel's (symbolic) temple is 40 cubits long (Ezekiel 41:2).
The courts in Ezekiel's temple were 40 cubits long (Ezra 46:22).
The Most High gave Nineveh 40 days to repent (Jonah 3:4).
Jesus fasted 40 days and nights (Matthew 4:2).
Jesus was tempted 40 days (Luke 4:2, Mark 1:13).
Jesus remained on earth 40 days after resurrection (Acts 1:3).
Women are pregnant for 40 weeks (time of testing).

The number forty is used by the Most High to represent a period of testing or judgment (the length of time necessary to accomplish some major part of the Most High's plan in his dealings with various portions of mankind). The 40 days of rain in the days of the flood were the judgments of the Most High. The 40 day periods of fasting, testing, and communing with the Most High that were faced by Moses and Yeshua were a form of the Most High's judgments. The forty years that the Israelites spent in the wilderness were also the judgments of the Most High. Various leaders in Israel who reigned for 40 year periods were put there BY the Most High according to His Will and Judgments. Egypt was left desolate for 40 years because of the Most High's judgments. I could go on and on, but I think these examples should suffice for now. 

Shema Selah, let us fully consider the importance of the number 40 throughout scripture!!