“Seven days from now I will make the rains pour down on the earth. And it will rain for forty days and forty nights…The rain continued to fall for forty days and forty nights.”—Genesis 7:4,12 NLT
I once saw a Facebook video about the forty days and forty nights in the Bible. The narrator asked the question: What happened on day forty-one? I found this question intriguing, and it prompted me to do a study of where the number “forty” appears in the Bible.
Today’s scripture was the first time the words “forty days” and “forty nights” were mentioned in the Bible. This was after God instructed Noah to build an ark, warning that He was about to send rain upon the earth.
I have often read the story of Noah and the flood as God destroying creation because of the sin, corruption and wickedness of the people. However, I believe the main reason for the flood was to preserve life. The list of the living things that God commanded Noah to take into the ark is proof that the flood’s aim was not to wipe out creation but to preserve it.
The story of Noah and the flood signifies a period of cleansing and marks a period of new beginning for creation and humanity. It also signifies what we must be prepared and willing to give up or surrender for a new life or new things to begin.
Some other places where the words forty days and forty nights were mentioned include:
Moses on Mount Sinai, this was a time of waiting and intercession for Israel. “Moses remained there on the mountain with the Lord forty days and forty nights. In all that time, he ate no bread and drank no water. And the Lord wrote the terms of the covenant—the Ten Commandments—on the stone tablets.” Exodus 34:28 (NLT)
When Jesus fasted in the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan. “Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.” Luke 4:1-2 (NLT)
The number “forty” in the Bible is significant and often implies or symbolises a period of trial, warning, preparation, testing, transformation, divine encounter or judgement. The good news is that there is always a “day forty-one”. This day often ushers in periods of new beginnings, renewed hope, purpose, and peace. The key is always to be attentive and sensitive to what God might be saying to you during this period.
Perhaps you are in a season of forty days and forty nights. Be encouraged, your day forty-one will come. This day will symbolise and announce your new beginning, breakthrough, renewed purpose, hope, strength, peace, power and prosperity.
Stay blessed,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 