Ask The Question, Part 4

We ran out of time for a number of questions asked in worship on May 14th. Here is the fourth installment on responses to those questions. 

Why is the Number 40 found so often in the Bible?

The number “forty” is used over 100 times in the Old and New Testaments.  It is the traditional Hebrew number used to represent or stylize the completion of a time of difficulty and trial, during which faith is tested. 

There were 40 days and nights of rain that led to the flood and Noah use of the Ark (Genesis 6 – 8)

Joseph spent 40 days in mourning over the death of Jacob, his father (Genesis 50:1-2)

The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. (Exodus 16)

Moses was on the mountain at Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights after the golden calf incident and before returning with the “Law 2.0”. (Exodus 24)

Later in the narrative, Elijah spends 40 days and nights on the same mountain.

Jonah announces that Nineveh will be destroyed in 40 days unless they clean up their act  (Jonah 3). 

Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights in the wilderness before being tempted (the Synoptic Gospels)

There were 40 days between the Easter event and the Ascension (Acts 1:3).

In each of these examples, the period of 40 days or years was a time portrayed in the narrative as difficult and filled with challenge, pain, or trial.