What is the significance of forty days and nights of rain? Genesis 7: 4 Seven days from now I (God) will make the rains pour down on the earth. And it will rain for forty days and forty nights, until I have wiped from the earth all the living things I have created.[1]
We see God using the number forty often throughout Scripture, which seems to have a symbolic meaning. Forty can symbolize new life, transformation, or a change in task. It can also represent times of hardship, a period of probation, trial, or testing. We often see divine intervention when God mentions forty.
Examples of Forty in Scripture
We don’t have room to list all the examples of forty in the Bible. But here are a few of the more familiar ones:
It rained for forty days and nights in the great flood.
Moses spent forty years in Egypt, forty years in the desert, and then led the nation of Israel for forty years. He also spent forty days on Mount Sinai twice.
The Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years.
Many kings, including Saul, David, and Solomon, had forty-year reigns.
Jesus spent forty days fasting in the wilderness, where Satan tempted Him.
After His resurrection, Jesus spent forty days revealing Himself to His followers before ascending back to heaven.
Forty Days and Nights of Rain
We don’t see forty days and nights of rain in our present atmospheric conditions. Scholars think there was a different source of atmospheric water in Noah’s day. There may have been a blanket of invisible water vapor that acted like a greenhouse to moderate the world’s climate. Somehow, the vapor condensed and fell to the earth at God’s command.
As we consider this, we can see the symbols that characterize forty in the Bible. The rain that caused the flood transformed the climate. This rain cleansed the evil of corrupted humanity and allowed Noah’s generations to repopulate the earth. Surviving the flood would not have been easy, but it was a trial for Noah and his family. But through it all, God intervened to care for them.
God can still do for us what He did for Noah. He wants to transform us from sinful beings to forgiven, restored people. He did this by sending Jesus to die on the cross and pay the price for our sins. When we receive the gift of salvation Jesus offers, we are cleansed and forgiven. It gives us a new life. This isn’t always easy, but God continues to intervene in our lives to guide and care for us.
The significance of forty in Noah’s story can still be a part of our story. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/a-divine-reset
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ge 7:3–4). Tyndale House Publishers.