In the Bible, we read of several events that involved the number 40:

• The Lord flooded the earth with rain that lasted forty days and forty nights.  “For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.” (Genesis 7:4).
• Moses was in the mount for forty days and night to receive the Ten Commandments.  “When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water.” (Deuteronomy 9:9).
• The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years.  “And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.” (Numbers 14:33).
• The Lord Jesus was tempted of the devil in the wilderness for forty days.  “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.” (Luke 4:1-2).

These are only a few examples of how the number forty was used in the Bible.  There are many more.  With so many examples, it becomes apparent that there is a significance in the use of this number (and many other numbers.)  Looking at some of the events that occurred with the number 40 involved, it becomes obvious that this number is used to signify testing, trials, or probation.  If you read of some of these events, you will see in that passage there is a test, trial, or time of probation.  In some cases, forty can also mean or suggest a generation of man. Moses’ life, as an example of trial and testing, can be divided up into three portions of 40 years.

In the Old Testament, if someone was found guilty of a crime and that crime merited a beating, the number of stripes that could be given was not to exceed forty.  “Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.” (Deuteronomy 25:3).  In this instance, we find the Lord allowing this test of punishment, but not so much that it would be overly severe. 

It’s not surprising that we find so many instances of the number forty, indicating trial, testing, or probation.  The life of the Christian is so full of trials and testings that we need the lessons found in these occasions in the Bible to instruct, guide, and encourage us when we go through similar situations.  Our trials are given to us as refining fires to produce necessary experience, patience, and maturity to live God honoring lives.  We read in 1 Peter 1:6-7, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 

Our trials are opportunities for spiritual growth rather than a cause for despair. They enable us to draw closer to God, to rely on His strength, and to develop resilience that sustains us throughout our Christian journey.  We can thank the Lord for these ‘forty’ situations in the Bible because “…these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”  (1 Corinthians 10:11).  (CC)  (623.6)