Numbers. Data. Statistics. The Bottom Line. Whatever you want to call it, information plays a significant role in our lives. From this information, trends can be identified and used in an attempt to predict patterns, spending habits, the state of the global economy and so on and so forth. However, when we delve deeper into a biblical study of numbers, there are interesting patterns which develop as the same numbers emerge in different texts.
A well-known biblical number to believers and non-believers alike is 666. Jesus had twelve disciples. There were twelve tribes of Israel. The Gospel of John records seven “I am” statements of Jesus, which confirm His divinity. God rested on the seventh day. Bible prophecy discusses seven-headed beasts, and numerous other creatures. Another interesting biblical number is the number forty.
As of this posting, I am celebrating my fortieth birthday. I took a look earlier this week at the significance of forty in the Bible.
*The rain of the Flood lasted forty days and forty nights.
*Isaac was forty when he married Rebekah.
*Israel had forty years of peace after Gideon conquered the Midianites.
*Eli judged Israel for forty years.
*Goliath challenged the Israelites for forty days until he was defeated by David.
*David and Solomon each ruled Israel for forty years.
*Elijah spent forty days traveling and fasting before encountering God on Mount Horeb.
*The twelve spies sent out by Moses returned after forty days.
*Jesus fasted and was tempted by Satan for forty days.
*Jesus appeared with His disciples for forty days after His resurrection.
Moses
The life of Moses serves as an interesting side note to our study of the number forty. The Bible tells us that Moses lived to be 120 years old. In fact, we can break down Moses’ story into three distinct forty-year increments.
*Moses spent his first forty years as a Prince of Egypt.
*Moses lived the next forty years in Midian, where he married, had children, and was a shepherd.
*Moses was 80 when he encountered God at the burning bush and led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.
*Moses spent forty days and nights on Mount Sinai, where he received the Ten Commandments.
*Moses led the Israelites forty years in the wilderness, where they ate manna the whole time.
From this brief study, we can see that forty typically represents a number of trial and breakthrough. Moses emerged as a deliverer forty years of exile. David was victorious over the giant who taunted Israel’s army. The corruption of Eli and his sons led to God speaking to the young Samuel, who would become the last Judge of Israel. Jesus overcame temptation, Satan, and death. We will certainly have our rough stretches during our forty day and forty year periods, but we must not lose heart. In one form of another, victory will come. Whenever a trial comes, it is an opportunity to learn. Just as one meal from an angel gave Elijah the strength to go on for forty days, so to can our wisdom and strength carry us through whatever we are facing. You can be delivered. You can overcome. You defeat your giant. God bless you all.
Triumphant In Christ 