Israel Institute of BS
In the Bible, God tests his believers on numerous occasions. In these stories we find the number 40. In the case of Noah, Moses, and Jesus, the trial lasted 40 days. The people of Israel were wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. This is no random coincidence. What is the secret behind the number 40?
Why 40?
Throughout history, God has tested his servants by means of 40 to reassure them that despite the pain and distress, his caring hand never disappears.
As said in Ps. 138:78, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.”
In Hebrew, every letter has a numerical value (A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, and so forth). Forty is the total numerical value of the Hebrew letters:
YD YHWH
יד יהוה
5+6+5+10+4+10
“Hand of the Lord”
The number 40 is here to remind us, that even in the most difficult times of trial, the hand of God sustains us.
