The number forty is mentioned often in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament. I do not know that there is any significance to the number forty. Some have attempted to read something into it, but such seems forced to me.
Forty days is found often in the Bible. In Noah’s day, it rained forty days and forty nights. Moses was up on Mount Sinai for forty days on two occasions (Ex. 24:18; 34:28). The twelve spies spent forty days surveying the land of Canaan (Num 13:25). Goliath challenged the army of Israel for forty days (I Sam 17:16). Elijah went from under the juniper tree to mount Horeb in forty days and forty nights (1 Kings 19:5-8). Jonah warned Nineveh that in forty days, she would be destroyed if repentance was not forthcoming (Jonah 3:4). Ezekiel was commanded by God to lie upon his left side for forty days, laying the iniquity upon the house of Israel, then to lie upon his right side forty days, bearing the iniquity of the house of Judah (Ezek. 4:4-6). Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights and was tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1-11).
Moses was forty years old when he fled into the wilderness to escape Pharaoh’s wrath. He kept his father-in-law’s sheep for forty years in the wilderness. Then, his last forty years he spent with Israel in the wilderness (Acts 7:23, 30; Deut. 34:7).
Israel spent forty years in the wilderness. God gave the rea-
son for their wandering:
And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aa- ron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil con- gregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, ac- cording to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concern- ing which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 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. But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. 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. (Num. 14:26-34)
God was grieved with Israel 40 years (Psa. 95:10), yet he provided manna, quail, and water for them. “He bore, or fed them, as a nurse beareth or feedeth her child.” Their clothes and sandals did not wear out (Deut. 29:5). He guided them both day and night (Exo. 13:21).
Caleb was forty years old when he was sent with the other 11 spies into the land of Canaan to view the land (Josh. 14:7). After Israel had taken the land of Canaan, Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, defeated Cushan-rishathaim, King of Mesopotamia, and there was rest in the land for forty years. After Gideon with his 300 hundred men defeated the Midianites, the country
was in quietness forty years (Judges 8:20). Israel was oppressed by the Philistines for forty years until Samson (Judges 13:1). Eli judged Israel for forty years (1 Sam. 4:18).
The first kings of Israel, Saul, David, and Solomon, each reigned forty years in Israel (Acts 13: 21; I Kings 2:11; 11:42). When the kingdom divided one of the kings of Judah, Joash, reigned for forty years (2 Chron. 24:1).
Ezekiel, a prophet during the Babylonian captivity, prophe- sied of Egypt’s being uninhabited for forty years. “No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years. And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are des- olate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.” (Ezek. 29:11-12.)
Forty years ago, on February 3, 1980, I preached try-out sermons to the congregation here. The Gospel Advocate had carried an advertisement that Shelbyville Road Church of Christ in Indianapolis was seeking a preacher. As I recall, the ad said that they were looking for a man between the ages of 30 – 50. I was 27 at the time. W. L. Totty who had preached for the church here from 1972 to 1980, was retiring. Previously he had been the preacher at the old Garfield Heights congregation from 1936 until 1972. After my sermons and meeting with the elders, they took a chance and hired me. I began commuting from Birmingham, Alabama, until school let out. Lois and I were both teaching at Jefferson Christian Academy and I was also the Associate Minister at the Center Point Church of Christ. Two years before we were moving from Auburn, Indi- ana, to Birmingham, Alabama. I was driving a U-Haul truck with all our belongings and we broke down near Franklin, Indi- ana, and we spent the night in a motel in Franklin till the truck was fixed. If we had only known that two years later the church here would be looking for a preacher, we could have just stayed. However, the truck was repaired and went on to Bir- mingham, where we had two good years of working with the school and church.
Forty years is a long time, but they are filled with many memories, some good, some sad. I have preached in at least 20 states and three foreign countries. Those faithful brethren who hired me are long gone. Many changes have taken place, butsome things remain the same. I can still preach the unadulterated word of God without fear or favor. Our boys were born in Indi- anapolis and were reared here. When we first came to the Shelbyville Road congregation, we were never treated as if we were outsiders. Most made us feel wel- comed and appreciated. W. L. Totty was a great encourager of my work. His compliments on my sermons were undeserved but deeply appreciated. I could repeat what he said, but it would seem like boasting. Ben and Dorris Kemp were great supporters. For the first six weeks we were here, we stayed in their home until we were able to move into our house. I was nervous about having a sec- retary and told sister Kemp that I was afraid to dictate a letter to Nadene, the church secretary. So, every evening when I went home to the Kemps’ house, she would ask me, “Did you dictate a letter today?” And every morning she would say, “Now, you need to dictate a letter today.” Rarely did I do that. Nadene Welch, my friend and the church secretary, was a tremendous help. I miss them all. More could be said but time and space forbid it. The Shelbyville Road congregation has been gluttons for punishment for 40 years. Thank you.