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FORTY
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The number forty (40) appears in the Bible many times. For example, 40 years or 40 days. This web page is a representation of 19 places in the Bible where the number 40 appears There are other instances of forty in the Bible, but these are the ones we emphasized. Click here to find out about this class project.
Directions: Try to figure out what each icon stands for. Roll
over each icon to get a hint. Click the
icon to jump down to the answer and the Bible citation. For example,
the top-left icon shows Noah's Ark and an olive branch. God sent rain on the
earth for 40 days and nights. This
is found in Genesis 7:4. Click 
to
return to the graphic at the top. If you have trouble seeing the rollover hints,
then try the page with the hints and graphics
listed individually.
a. God sent rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, to wipe from the face of the earth every living creature he had made. God wiped out all creatures on earth because he was disappointed. Noah, his family, and the animals were saved on the ark.
b. Forty days & nights was a period of renewal.
c. Genesis 7:4
a. Then Joseph directed the physicians in is service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming.
b. Forty days was a period of embalming.
c. Genesis 50:2-3
3.
Moses Raised by the Egyptians (first one-third of his life)
a. “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his fellow Israelites.” After seeing an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, he kills the Egyptian. The next day he ran away to Midian.
b. Forty years was a period of learning (leadership).
c. Exodus 2 & Acts 7:23.
4.
Moses Lives with Midianites (second one-third of his life)
a. For forty years Moses lives as a shepherd with a family of Midianites, marries, and comes to know God. At the end of the forty years, God calls Moses, through the burning bush, to go and lead the people out of bondage in Egypt.
b. Forty years was a period of learning to know God, and spiritual growth.
c. Exodus 2-7. Exodus 7:7.
5.
Moses Leads the Israelites in the Wilderness (last one-third of his life)
a. For forty years Moses leads the Israelites in the wilderness. God teaches them and provides them with food and water. Moses leads them to the Jordan river, but does not cross into the promised land.
b. Forty years was a period of learning to be a nation of God.
c. Exodus. Exodus 16:35.
6.
Moses on the Mountain 40 Days to Get the 10 Commandments
a. “So he was there with the Lord [on the mountain] forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread not drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.”
b. Forty days was a period of receiving.
c. Exodus 34:28
a. One of the laws God gave the people through Moses was that when a person was being judged and they were guilty they “must not give him more than forty lashes. If he is flogged more than that, your brother will be degraded in your eyes.”
b. Forty lashes was a period of pain and punishment.
c. Deuteronomy 25:3.
a. Moses sent spies to explore the land of Canaan to see if they could take it over. The Israelites waited on the other side (east) of the Jordan River. At the end of forty days the spies returned from exploring the land to make their report.
b. Forty days was a period of exploring.
c. Numbers 13:25.
9.
Israelites Lose to Philistines.
a. After entering Canaan, the Promised Land, and battling the inhabitants and taking over most of the land…“the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for 40 years.”
b. Forty years was a period of punishment.
c. Judges 13:1.
a. Eli, a righteous man, judged Israel for forty years. (Samuel lived with and learned under Eli. Samuel selected David as King.)
b. Forty years was a period of leadership.
c. 1 Samuel 4:18.
11. Goliath
Threatens Israelites
a. Goliath, the giant Philistine, threatens the Israelites for forty days. Then David, as a boy, slays Goliath with a sling and stones.
b. Forty days was a period of intimidation.
c. 1 Samuel 17:16.
12. First
King: Saul is the first King of Israel
a. Saul united Israel as their first King, following the period of the Judges.
b. Forty years was a period of uniting.
c. Acts 13:21, 1 Samuel.
a. David reigned as Israel’s second King for 40 years. Israel grew and prospered under David’s leadership.
b. Forty years was a period of greatness and power.
c. 2 Samuel 5:4.
14. Third
King: Solomon Reigns
a. Solomon, David’s son, reigned as Israel’s third King for 40 years. Israel continued to grow and prosper under Solomon’s leadership.
b. Forty years was a period of greatness and building up.
c. 1 Kings 11:42.
a. Elijah, the prophet, took a 40 day journey to the mount of Horeb. There, God taught him that God was not in the fire, or earthquake, or wind, but a “still small voice” that was with Elijah.
b. Forty days was a period of learning about the nature of God.
c. 1 Kings 19:8.
a. Jonah entered the city and cried out, “In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed.” The city had forty days to repent and mend their wicked ways, or be destroyed.” They did repent.
b. Forty days was a period of warning.
c. Jonah 3:4.
a. Following his baptism, and prior to his formal ministry, Jesus spends 40 days and nights in the wilderness, fasting. During this time, the devil comes and tempts Jesus.
b. Forty days was a period of preparation for Jesus’ ministry.
c. Matthew 4:1-3.
18. Jesus
Appears to his Disciples
a. “For 40 days after his death Jesus appeared to his disciples many times in ways that proved beyond a doubt that he was alive." The tomb was empty. The disciples could see and touch the holes in his hands. Then he ascended to Heaven.
b. Forty days was a period of believing and verifying the resurrection.
c. Acts 1:3.
a. “From the Jews five times I [the apostle Paul] received forty stripes minus one.” Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, but the Jews were against his teachings. (39 were given to ensure that the limit of 40 was not exceeded.) Before knowing Christ Paul (then "Saul") persecuted Christians.
b. Forty lashes was a period of pain and punishment.
c. 2 Corinthians 11:24.
This web page is a result of project done by the Junior High Sunday School Class at Wesley United Methodist Church (W.U.M.C.) in Macomb, Illinois. Students did the Bible research and created the icons. Scott Edwards and Jim Olsen are the teachers.
The class also constructed a Forty Banner which is similar to this web page and available for viewing at Wesley United Methodist Church.
Web page created, May 2002, by Jim Olsen.
May God bless you and may you walk in his ways.