Bibile Associations - Number Forty, Meaning in Bible Scripture

Denton, Texas

What do the Numbers, Colors and Metals in Scripture Represent?

Trail and Judgment

The number forty is often associated in the scriptures with the subject of trial and judgment. In a courtroom, you first have the trial and then you have the judgment. Sometimes we see the number forty associated with the trial and sometimes we see it associated with the judgment after the verdict is rendered.

We observe in the scriptures the number forty associated with the following examples of trial or judgment:

1. The destruction of the world during the days of Noah

2. Moses going into the mount to receive the law contrasted to Christ's being tested of Satan.

3. The spies spying out the land of Canaan

4. The judgment upon the children of Israel in the wilderness because they did not believe the promise and power of God

5. The judgment of a wicked man

6. National judgment of Israel because of sin and repentance

7. Trial of faith due to Goliath's defiance

8. The buildings of the tabernacle, temple, and of Ezekiel's vision

9. The trial and judgment of Ninevah

10. Judgment of Jerusalem and Jews for their rejection of Christ.

Forty and the Destruction of the World

God created the world and formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostril the breath of life and he became a living soul. God gave one commandment to Adam and told him that "Of every tree of the garden, thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." When Adam broke the commandment, he plunged himself and his posterity into the pit of being dead in trespasses and sins. Man began to live out his sin-cursed nature and to commit grievous sins. This is illustrated when Cain killed Abel because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.

Nearly nineteen hundred years into man's history on earth, God had determined to destroy the earth with a flood. The condition of man upon earth is described thusly:

1. Gen. 6:5 "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them."

2. Gen. 6:11 "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth."

Yet, even in this den of iniquity, we see the grace and mercy of God: Gen. 6:8 "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."

There are many ways in which God judges sin, both eternally and timely. Of course we know that in the end of time, the non-elect will be cast in the lake of fire and be eternally judged of sins. Yet, among other ways, God judges the sins of nations and in the time of the flood, the sins of a whole world: Ps. 9:17 "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

The scriptures tell us that the Lord rules and judges the nations:

1. Rev 12:5 "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

2. Rev 19:15 "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."

This execution of the wrathful judgment of God upon nations is further illustrated for us in the scriptures in the destruction of the following nations:

1. Sodom and Gomorrhea,

2. The seven nations that Israel displaced from the land of Canaan,

3. Babylon,

4. The empire of the Medes and Persians,

5. and the nation of Israel.

The one common element that all these nations had is that the iniquity had come to the point that there was no recourse but destruction: Gen. 15:16 "But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full."

Yet, as we previously pointed out, in the midst of timely judgment, God is still gracious and merciful: Gen. 6:13 "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. 20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive."

The ark, we are informed in 1 Pet. 3:20, 21 is a figure of the death and resurrection of Christ: "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." Thus, even in the midst of a timely destruction, God had placed that which was a figure of an eternal deliverance from sin.

The actual destruction of the earth was by a flood, part of which was a result of rain for forty days and nights:

1. Gen 7:4 "For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth."

2. Gen 7:12 "And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights."

3. Gen 7:17 "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."

This was the beginning of the association between the number forty and the subject of trial and judgment.

Forty Days Fasting – Moses vs. Christ

Moses and Christ are set forth for us in the scriptures for us to compare:

1. Deu. 18:15 "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;"

2. Acts 3:22 "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you."

3. Acts 7:37 "This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear."

4. John 1:17 "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

Moses is the prophet by which the law was given. Jesus Christ is the prophet by which grace and truth came.

When Moses went up into the mountain at the commandment of God to receive the law, including the ten commandments he fasted forty days and forty nights: Deu. 9:9 "When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: 10 And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. 11 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."

In contrast to this, when Christ was baptized of John in the river Jordan, he was led of the Spirit into the wilderness: Matt. 4:1 "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered."

Fasting for forty days and forty nights is, no doubt, a quite arduous task. Moses and Christ are the only two that I read about in the scriptures who fasted for forty days and forty nights. It is easier to say that we are followers of the Lord when we have everything going right for us. If we are in good health, have a good job, have no problems to speak of in our family and in our church, have a good relationship with our fellow workers, etc. and are not faced with any particular troubles or problems, then to say that we are followers of the Lord and are walking by faith is much easier, than it is when our health falters, we have lost our job, or we have family difficulties, or we have troubles in the church, or we are faced with a myriad of troubles and problems.

It is much more a test of our faith when we are at our weakest condition than when we are at our strongest condition. Now, I say the above to show that both Moses and Christ were put to the test at the point of great weakness of body. Actually, it could be argued that Christ test was more arduous than Moses test. Moses was in the mountain, whereas Christ was in the wilderness.

In Moses test, he had been given the ten commandments which were written on two tables of stone by the finger of God. When he came down out of the mountain after forty days and nights, he found the children of Israel committing idolatry and fornication and revelry. In his anger, he threw down the two tables of stone and broke them. Thus, the first thing that man did after receiving the ten commandments was to break them!

In contrast to Moses, Christ was tempted of the devil and sinned not. Moses later sinned in the matter of the waters of Meribah and was not permitted to go into the land of Canaan: Deu. 32:49 "Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: 50 And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people: 51 Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. 52 Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel." Christ never did sin though he had more tests of faith than anyone ever had.

This comparative test of faith shows forth the superiority and greatness of Christ and that he is a worthy redeemer for his people.

No doubt, Moses was a great prophet and he was blest of God to deliver the law. Christ is the greater prophet and he delivered both truth (justice) and grace to which we are totally indebted and should be most thankful.

Forty Days Spying out the Land of Canaan

Num. 13:1 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them." God commanded that spies be sent to search the land of Canaan and bring back a report.

In sending out the spies, Moses gave them commandment as to what they were to do: Num. 13:17 "And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 18 And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes."

In going forth on their duty to spy out the land of Canaan the twelve men were being tested as to the report they would bring back. Likewise, when we are going forth on our duties toward the Lord, we can consider that often we are being tested as to our response in carrying out those duties and the report that we bring back.

The spies went about carrying out their duties in spying out the land of Canaan and this is what they found: Num. 13:21 "So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. 22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days."

Next, here is the report that they gave of what they found in the land of Canaan: Num. 13:26 "And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan." Up to this point, it would appear that the spies had done well in spying out the land, in discovering what was in the land and in reporting back to the children of Israel.

The conclusion that ten of the spies drew from what they reported, however, was based on a lack of faith in their God, his power to deliver and his covenant promise: Num. 13:30 "And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land, which they had searched, unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."

It was true that there were giants in the land, and it was true that they were well fortified in their positions to defend the land. From a natural physical ability, they would have appeared to be much more capable in battle than the children of Israel were. However, one only had to look back a short time to see that God had manifest much power and deliverance to the children of Israel. God had sent forth his ten sore judgments upon the land of Egypt. After these judgments, Pharaoh had agreed to let the children of Israel go into the wilderness, but then changed his mind and went with his army to destroy and bring back the children of Israel.

While Pharaoh and his host marched on against the children of Israel, the children of Israel were penned up next to the Red Sea. God sent forth a pillar of a cloud and of fire to separate between the children of Israel and the Egyptian army. The pillar was a light by night to the children of Israel, but was darkness to the Egyptians. During that night, God caused a mighty east wind to blow and to part the waters of the Red Sea so that the next morning the children of Israel were able to cross the Sea on dry ground. When Pharaoh and his mighty army assayed to follow the children of Israel, their chariots became stuck in the mud and God caused the waters of the Red Sea to return and to drown Pharaoh and the host of the Egyptian army. Afterwards, the children of Israel sang and gave praise to the God of Israel for his great deliverance in saving them from their enemy.

The spies should have been well aware of the manifest power and deliverance of the Lord in delivering them out of Pharaoh's hand, but they also should have been well aware of the promise that God had made by covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give them the land of Canaan.

The spies report that, "We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we," showed forth a lack of faith in God and his promises and encouraged the children of Israel also to doubt the power and promises of God. The ten spies were leaders of the people, they were put to the test and failed, and judgment was to follow. In contrast Caleb and Joshua encouraged the people by saying: Num. 14:6 "And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not."

Therefore, by the actions of the ten spies who discouraged the people, and the actions of Joshua and Caleb, the following judgment was carried out of the Lord: Num. 14:36 "And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, 37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD 38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still." Our faith is often put to the test, let us be found faithful in the service of the Lord and trust in Him and his promises. Our God never calls on us to do anything, but that he gives us the ability to do it or else delivers us in the trial of our faith.

Trial of Faith due to Goliath's Defiance

1 Pet. 1:6 "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." Many times in the life of a child of God his faith is put to the test. This was true in the case of David going to battle against Goliath.

The children of Israel were at war with the Philistines. The Philistines had a mighty warrior named Goliath. King Saul, the army of Israel, and nearly all Israel were afraid of this mighty warrior as he was truly a giant in stature and human strength. The size of Goliath is described as follows: 1 Sam. 17:4 "And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him."

Goliath put forth a proposal to the children of Israel that struck fear in the heart of King Saul, the army of Israel and all of Israel: 1 Sam. 17:8 "And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. 9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. 10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid."

The problem King Saul, the army of Israel, and the people of Israel had was that they were strictly looking upon an arm of flesh. They only saw how they in their flesh matched up against this man who was far greater and stronger than any of them. They were not trusting in the Lord and his promises.

Among all of Israel, there was a young lad by the name of David who was not afraid of the giant. At one time he had been a servant of King Saul but had returned to his father's house to care for the flock of sheep. Subsequently, his father Jesse sent him to carry food to his brothers in the war and to see how they fared: 1 Sam. 17:16 "And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. 17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; 18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge."

David came to the army to see his brethren when the giant came and once again defied the army of Israel: 1 Sam. 17:22 "And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren. 23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

David had learned by experience how that the Lord can deliver and told King Saul of his experience: 1 Sam. 17:34 "And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee."

Most people in telling the story of David and Goliath, think that the young and much smaller David was up against great odds in fighting Goliath and that he was fortunate to slay the giant because of the path of the stone that lodged in Goliath's forehead. The fight was indeed a great mismatch, but not as most people believe. Goliath had no chance of victory in this match as he was doing battle not only against David, but also against the Lord. The Lord had delivered David out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear. The Lord has all power and all wisdom and therefore Goliath was no match for the Lord.

David trusted in the Lord and proved his faith in battle against the giant. Even though his brothers derided him, and King Saul had said that he was no match against the giant, and the giant ridiculed him, yet David did not let the fear of the people, or of the army, or of King Saul deter him. David had the only one he needed to assure him of victory over the giant. He had the Lord. His trust was not in his own arm of flesh, but his trust was in the Lord. The people feared the giant because they trusted in their own strength. The army feared the giant because they trusted in their own strength. King Saul feared the giant because he trusted in his own strength.

David knew victory would be his because he trusted in the Lord: 1 Sam. 17:45 "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands."

Just as the number forty is associated with trial and judgment, David passed the trial of his faith and consequently the judgment was that he slew the giant with his own sword.

Forty Years Wandering in the Wilderness

The children of Israel spent forty years wandering in the wilderness until all of those who were 20 years of age and older when they came out of Egypt had died. This was a judgment pronounced upon them of God. The reason for this judgment we will now examine.

When the spies had returned from spying out the land of Canaan for forty days, they gave their report of what they had found: Num. 13:27 "And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan." From this we gather that the land was a very good land and that the inhabitants of the land were strong and well fortified, with the cities walled and very great. The people of Israel would have to trust in the Lord's deliverance in order to drive out the inhabitants of the land and possess it.

There were some facts that the people knew before the spies gave their report:

1. The Lord had by a strong arm poured out his ten sore judgments upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

2. The Lord had parted the waters of the Red Sea that the children of Israel may pass over on dry ground, then He caused the waters to return to drown Pharaoh and his host when they marched after the children of Israel.

3. The Lord had caused water to flow out of the rock to give drink to the children of Israel.

4. The Lord had caused manna to appear on the ground each day to give food to the children of Israel in the wilderness.

5. The Lord had sweetened the bitter waters of Marah when the children of Israel were about to die of thirst when they first came into the wilderness.

6. The Lord had gone before the children of Israel in a pillar of a cloud.

7. The Lord gave light to the children of Israel at night by a pillar of fire.

8. The Lord had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give the land of Canaan to the children of Israel for a possession by covenant promise.

Next, two sets of witnesses among the spies gave contradictory conclusions:

1. Caleb and Joshua encouraged the people to go possess the land of Canaan:

a. Num. 13:30 "And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it."

b. Num. 14:6 "And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not."

2. The other ten spies discouraged the people: Num. 13:31 "But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."

The reaction of the people was to disbelieve Caleb and Joshua and to believe the evil report of the other ten spies: Num. 14:1 "And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt." Thus, the reaction of the people was to disbelieve the covenant promise and power of God. They also desired to return back unto Egyptian bondage! Further, they murmured against Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Caleb and the Lord.

Because of this, the Lord pronounced judgment against the children of Israel:

1. Num. 14:22 "Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it."

2. Num. 14:27 "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. 28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: 29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, 30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.

32 But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. 34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. 35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die."

Further, this judgment was used as a warning to us in this day in which we live in Hebrews chapters 3 and 4. Heb. 3:7 "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Also, we read in Heb. 3:17 "But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."

Next, we read in Heb. 4:9 "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." Many people today do not believe in the covenant promise of rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ and are going about trying to establish their own righteousness. Subsequently, they remain in the wilderness outside the true church of Jesus Christ and find no rest from their ignorant labors in a false works system. The major lesson in all of the above is that we should believe in the covenant promises of God and rest in the power of God who has finished the work of redeeming us from our sins.

Judgment of Jerusalem and Jews for their rejection of Christ

Micah 7:14 "Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. 15 According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I show unto him marvellous things." This prophecy was of the coming of the Lord in his personal ministry in the flesh here on earth. Beginning with his baptism until the time of the destruction of Jerusalem was a period of forty years. During this time signs and wonders both at the hand of the Lord and of the apostles was manifest for a period of forty years, just as the children of Israel had wondered in the wilderness for forty years and saw God's daily manifestation of signs and wonders.

The Lord warned the Jews and the city of Jerusalem of the impending judgment that was to come upon them because of their rejection of him: Matt. 23:32 "Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."

Also we read in Matt. 21:33 "Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."

In addition, the Lord warned certain cities in Israel of impending judgment: Matt. 11:20 "Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee."

The judgment upon Jerusalem and the cities of Israel began around 70 A.D. about forty years after the coming of Christ into his personal ministry in the flesh.

National Judgment of Israel Because of Sin and Repentance

During the days of Joshua, the children of Israel were blessed of God to go in and possess the land of Canaan. They drove out most of the former inhabitants of the land through the delivering hand of God. However, God left some of the inhabitants of the land in order to prove Israel, whether they would keep the commandments of God: Judges 3:1 "Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; 2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; 3 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath. 4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses."

It was not long until the children of Israel left off following the Lord and keeping his commandments: Judges 3:5 "And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: 6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. 7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. 8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years."

While in bondage, the children of Israel cried out and the Lord sent a deliverer who then judged Israel for forty years: Judges 3:9 "And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 10 And the spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim. 11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died."

We see this pattern repeating itself repeatedly throughout the Old Testament history of Israel. The Lord would deliver the children of Israel, then they would do evil and the Lord would deliver them into bondage of another people. After Israel had been in bondage for several years, they would cry out unto the Lord and he would send another deliverer. Then the children of Israel would keep the commandments of God for a period of time. Then they would do evil again, etc. Other examples are set forth in the following passages:

1. Judg 5:31 "So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years."

2. Judg 8:28 "Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon."

3. Judg 13:1 "And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years."

This trial and judgment of national Israel in the Old Testament should be a warning to all nations: Psa 9:17 "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." In addition, we are told that the Lord rules the nations with a rod of iron:

1. Rev 2:27 "And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father."

2. Rev 12:5 "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne."

3. Rev 19:15 "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."

My fear is that the United States has forgotten God as evidenced by her actions and shall be turned into hell as the Lord rules her with a rod of iron.

The buildings of the tabernacle, temple, and of Ezekiel's vision

In studying the dimensions, colors, metals, etc. of the various buildings set forth in the scriptures, we find that their correlations with various bible subjects often point us to characteristics of the object they are a type of. The tabernacle, the temple, and Ezekiel's vision of a house are all typical of the Lord's church in this New Testament age.

The dimension of forty is found in all three of the subject Old Testament buildings:

1. Ex. 26:19 "And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons."

2. 1 Ki. 6:17 "And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long."

3. 1 Ki 7:38 "Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver."

4. Ezek 41:2 "And the breadth of the door was ten cubits: and the sides of the door were five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on the other side: and he measured the length thereof, forty cubits: and the breadth, twenty cubits."

5. Ezek 46:22 "In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad: these four corners were of one measure."

Since these building in type all point us to the Lord's New Testament church, we conclude that as the number forty is associated with trial and judgment, so the New Testament church has been tried in the fire of God's judgment and found to withstand the test of time.

1 Corinthians chapter three tells us of the trying of God's people in the church: 1 Cor. 3:10 "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

The trial and judgment of Nineveh

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 we read of a remedy for God's people who are under the sentence of impending judgment because of their sins: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Some have suggested that this only applies to the nation of Israel and under the Old Testament law economy. However, the example that is given to us in the scriptures was with a city of people other than Israel who were not under the Old Testament economy of worship. This city was Nineveh. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria and was an enemy of Israel and Judah. Yet we see God's mercy manifest to the city of Nineveh.

In 2 Chr. 7:14 we notice that the remedy is only given to God's people. Since the remedy was manifest by the city of Nineveh, we must conclude that God had a people in the city of Nineveh who were not of the nation of Israel. The city, however, was under the impending judgment of God because of gross sins. This raises the question, "Do God's people commit sins?" The answer is a resounding yes. However, God also is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

God sent Jonah to Nineveh to deliver the following message: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." The first thing that is necessary to bring about the remedy in 2 Chr. 7:14 is to believe God: Jonah 3:5 "So the people of Nineveh believed God." Had they not believed God, then they would have been destroyed without question in forty days.

Next, we see the inhabitants of Nineveh doing what is set forth in 2 Chr. 7:14. The first thing is that God's people must humble themselves: Jonah 3:5 "and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth."

The second thing that God's people must do is pray. We see the inhabitants of Nineveh praying: Jonah 3:8 "and cry mightily unto God." Through the King's commandment, the inhabitants of Nineveh cried mightily unto God.

The third thing is that God's people must turn from their wicked way. Again, the King of Nineveh commanded and the people complied: Jonah 3:8 "yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands."

The fourth thing is that God's people must seek God's face: Jonah 3:9 "Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?"

When the inhabitants of Nineveh had done the four things set forth in 2 Chr. 7:14 we read of the conclusion: Jonah 3:10 "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not."

The application is for us today. Whether it be for a whole nation, or for a city, or for a church, or for a group of churches, the remedy is there for us.

It is not difficult to see the wickedness that is becoming so prevalent in the United States and in especially certain cities of the United States. Also, it is easy to see the laxness of discipline in many of the churches and the lack of true discipleship in the lives of many members of the church. God is not mocked: whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. How shall we escape the timely judgment of God because of these things? The answer is found in 2 Chr. 7:14. Do we believe it? Are we willing to do those things?

Timely Judgment of Evil Works of Men

Deu. 25:1 "If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. 2 And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. 3 Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee."

This, obviously, has nothing to do with the eternal judgment of sin, but was given to the judges of Israel to combat and judge wicked actions among the people. In order for a person to be beaten with forty stripes, he must first have been judged worthy of being beaten with that many stripes. The punishment was to fit the offense. Implied in the above was that a person could be beaten with fewer stripes if the offense was not as bad, but in no case was he to be beaten with more than forty stripes.

Thru tradition, the Jews had shortened the number to thirty nine stripes and would not give anyone more than thirty nine stripes. The thirty nine stripes was reserved for the most heinous of offenders according to their judgment.

In the eyes of the Pharisaical Jews, Paul's preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ constituted a most heinous offence as five times he was beaten with forty stripes save one: 2 Cor 11:24 "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one."