Investigate Forty Days

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Have you ever wondered about the importance of numbers for example forty in the Bible? I can’t help but think about them as I encounter them while reading. They are there for a reason. What that reason is, is for us to discover.

I have examined the significance of fifty and its correlation to Pentecost. Today, I want to investigate forty and its Biblical significance.

Let’s start with Noah. It rained for forty consecutive days and forty nights on all the earth then it stopped. By which time all the animals and most of the plants had died. After forty consecutive days and nights of rain the ark floats.

“And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth,” Genesis 7:12, 17.

Forty is a the Lord’s turning point. After the fulfillment of forty, whether days, weeks or years there is a physical and a spiritual release. Note, how Noah conducts a test to determine if his time of release had come. The “waters decreased continually” and “at the end of forty days” he sent out a “raven” through the window of the ark. He wanted to know if water was still covering all the earth. The bird returned and Noah knew his release was not yet for water was still covering the land, Genesis 8:1-7. Forty is the time of release from the LORD.

Change After Forty Years or Forty Days

After having the same experience for forty years, a change is imminent. The Children of Israel ate manna in the desert for forty years; then, the Lord brought them to the Promised Land, Exodus 16:35.

Moses was with the Lord in the mountain for many days and nights; yet, he only got the “two tablets of stone” at the end of forty days and forty nights.

Moses explains, “and it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant,” Deuteronomy 9:11.

The Lord released Moses only after forty days and forty nights of fasting, working on the “pattern” of the tabernacle” and writing all the statutes and precepts of the Lord, which he shall declare to the people of God, Exodus 24:18; 34:28.

The “Judge” could decree that an offender be beaten with many stripes but not more than forty. After receiving forty “stripes”, they must release him, and they must cease to flog him, Deuteronomy 25:3. Apostle Paul was beaten five times with forty stripes and once he received less than forty, 2 Corinthians 11:24. He could not legally receive more than forty lashes for that number indicates his turning point has come.

How much time remains before your turning point, your release comes?

Forty is the number of release. Release any offender or prisoner after he has received forty lashes with the cat-o-nine. Physical victory comes after you have attained forty, forty lashes or forty years.

One Meal Provides Nourishment For Forty Days

One meal provided nourishment, which sustained a prophet of God for forty days and forty nights. He did not need another meal until after “that”, duration expired.

Speaking of Elijah, “and he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God,” 1 Kings 19:8.

The Lord also “sustained” Israel for forty years in the desert and they lacked nothing, Nehemiah 9:21. Then, He brought them to cities that they did not build, houses they never built, vineyards they did not plant. Their release had come.

Being around someone for forty days who was dead will convince you that he is alive. Jesus Christ remained forty days with his disciples after his resurrection and before his ascension into heaven. They touched him; handle the scars from the nail wounds in his hands and feet; they ate together; they chatted together and he taught them of things to come. After forty days, they were convinced that Jesus rose from the dead and that he is alive. Jesus could return to heaven only after forty days have elapsed.

Speaking of Jesus Christ, Doctor Luke wrote “to whom also he” showed “himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God,” Acts 1:3.

To see a man you know that had been crippled for forty years walk will stimulate faith in God in you. After forty years of being unable to walk his release came.

“For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed,” Acts4:22.

Forty is a Spiritual Marker

Forty is a spiritual marker. After you have done forty days of fasting, you shall have victory. After forty years of sufferings, you shall have relief. After forty years ruling as king, is time for a change in the palace. The Lord uses forty to indicate to us the time of our change, a turning point in your life. Jesus was tempted of Satan only after forty days and forty nights of fasting. After forty, the turning point, the Devil knew he could approach Christ, not before.

Moses had his first encounter with the Lord forty years after he ran away from Egypt and forty additional years since he was forty.

“And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush,” Acts7:30.

Forty is a physical marker. Goliath showed himself to Israel for forty day; but after forty days, David killed him. After forty days of fighting, you shall have peace and victory.

“And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days,” 1 Samuel17:16.

Spiritual Victory Comes After Forty

Spiritual victory comes after forty. It maybe forty weeks, forty days or forty years, but after waiting a duration of forty units of time your victory will come. How long have you been waiting for your change? Have faith in God and be strong, be very courageous God has not forgotten you, but His time of release is forty.

The Lord utilizes forty units of time to provide hope in Him that our change is near. Look up, your forty units of time is near for God will change your situation. Maybe you have been having pains; or suffering from an illness forty is your change and God’s way to give you hope. Your turning point is forty.

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