41: Trial To Triumph

41: Trial to Triumph

Numbers Over Words … Sometimes

I am a word person. I have always viewed numbers as, well, the enemy. Thanks to TikTok and social media, weird number combinations seem to be popping up all over these days. There are “angel numbers,” the work schedule “996” (9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. six days a week), and the meaningless-but-funny “6-7” fad. We remember 9/11, July 4th, and Friday the 13th. Added to that are the traditional college football rankings, stock market reports, poll results, and news statistics. It’s hard for me to digest, but some real people find the study of numbers fascinating–I suppose there’s no accounting for taste. Even Bible scholars are into numerology, and in that, I am interested! Forty-one is making the rounds of popular Bible study, and I must say, I like it. It tells the story of “trial to triumph.”

First of all, what’s so important about numerology? According to the Chaldean Numerology Course for Beginners, there are some deep and fundamental laws in the universe into which numerology allows us to tap, and there is probably some truth there:

“Everything in the universe is built upon vibration and is cyclical. There is a law that states ‘as above – so below.’ The universe is like a giant holograph where vibrations, systems, concepts, and patterns on a grand scale can be seen mirrored on a smaller scale. The numbers have a vibrational meaning and are also cyclical. Due to the holographic principle, everything in the universe can be mapped down onto the number system. So when we tap into the numbers, we tap into the universal and cyclical energies in the universe.”

OK, but what about numerology in the Bible? Specifically, Biblical numerology is “the use of numbers for their symbolic value and for what they represent in biblical texts.” Let’s look at 40 and 1:

Forty (40)

“Quoted 146 times in Scripture, the number 40 generally symbolizes a period of time often associated with a test.”

The rains of the Great Flood lasted 40 days and 40 nights
Moses lived forty years in Egypt and forty years in the desert before God chose him to lead his people out of slavery.
The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years before they were allowed to enter the Promised Land.
Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights, on two separate occasions (Exodus 24:18 ; 34:1 – 28), receiving the Law.
Moses also sent spies out for forty days to investigate the land that God had promised the Israelites as an inheritance (Numbers 13: 25 ; 14:34).
The prophet Jonah prophesied to the ancient city of Nineveh for forty days, bringing about repentance.
Goliath taunted the Israelite army for 40 days before David stepped up.
Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert for 40 days.
Jesus remained in Jerusalem and Galilee after His resurrection for 40 days before his ascension.

I believe there is enough evidence that the number 40 in the Bible often symbolizes a period of testing, trial, or probation, appearing in events like the 40 days and nights of rain during the Great Flood, the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert, and the 40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness. It is a significant number that represents a full or complete duration of a trial, preparing people for what comes next, and appears in both Old and New Testament stories.

One (1)

“The number one represents the unity of the whole and the beginning, as for example, [the day of rest after creation is complete] in Genesis. The number 1 is divisible only by itself and independent of any other number, but it informs them all. It symbolizes the unity of the God Almighty. What is known as Shema (or Shema Yisrael), a quotation from Deuteronomy 6:4, declares the ‘oneness’ of God: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one,’ which is the foundational statement for Jewish and Christian monotheism. This verse emphasizes that there is only one true God and calls for exclusive devotion and worship to Him alone.”

The number 1 also represents the unity between God the Father, His Son Jesus (who by His singular sacrifice, made possible the forgiveness of sins), and the Holy Spirit.

The two put together, 40+1=41, symbolize the trial and the following breakthrough to triumph:

The Literal Meaning

The word em in Hebrew is mother. It also suggests birth. The literal meaning of its parts is “Strong Water” (“Aleph” = ox or strong; plus “Mem” = Water). The mother’s body nurtures the child during pregnancy in the amniotic fluid, which then bursts forth at the beginning of the final travail before the child is birthed into the world–the test or trial and the breakthrough or new beginning. “Now the word ‘em’ [mother] in Hebrew numerically equals 41. (according to Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance. 2nd ed. Goodrick, E. W., & Kohlenberger, J. R. (1990)..

‘aleph (א): The first letter of the Hebrew alphabet; has a value of 1.
mem (מ): Has a numerical value of 40.
’em (אֵם):

The Spiritual Meaning

Spiritual meaning of the number 41 is similar. It indicates:

Hope and breakthrough: The number 41 represents the hopeful “day after” a long and trying period. The rain stops, the giant is defeated, and a new chapter begins.
End of a trial: It marks the culmination of a time of testing, temptation, or waiting. After a 40-day fast or 40 years of wandering, the 41st day [or year] brings a resolution and a new beginning.
New beginnings and promised land: The number is strongly associated with entering a new, promised land after a long period of hardship. It is a symbol of a fresh start and the fulfillment of a long-held desire.
Divine intervention: The number signifies the moment when divine intervention occurs to bring about a resolution, such as God calling Moses or Jesus launching his ministry after his temptation.

Applying the Spiritual Meaning of 41:

Seemingly, 41 is a significant number that represents a full or complete duration of a trial, preparing people for what comes next, and appears in both Old and New Testament stories.

In the Flood narrative, rain fell for 40 days and 40 nights. Day 41 came and the rain stopped. Moses went up on the mountain for 40 days. On day 41, he received the Ten Commandments. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Year 41, they walked into the Promised Land. Goliath, taunted Israel’s army for 40 days. Day 41 came, and David slew Goliath. Jonah preached a message of destruction to Nineveh for 40 days. On day 41, God saw their repentance and canceled his plan to destroy them. Jesus fasted in the wilderness and was tempted for 40 days. Day 41, and the devil fled and angels came to minister to Him. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples for 40 days. On day 41, He ascended into Heaven.

Psalm 41

Just for kicks and giggles, here’s Psalm 41. It is a song of trial that ends in victory.

Psalm 41

For the director of music. A psalm of David (a man who knew about these things).

Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.

The Lord protects and preserves them—
they are counted among the blessed in the land—
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.

The Lord sustains them on their sickbed
and restores them from their bed of illness.

I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord;
heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die and his name perish?”

When one of them comes to see me,
he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;
then he goes out and spreads it around.

All my enemies whisper together against me;
they imagine the worst for me, saying,

“A vile disease has afflicted him;
he will never get up from the place where he lies.”

Even my close friend,
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned against me.

But may you have mercy on me, Lord;
raise me up, that I may repay them.

I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does not triumph over me.

Because of my integrity you uphold me
and set me in your presence forever.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.

Faith for the Triumph

Identify your “40”: Consider what difficult or long period you may be going through in your life.
Have faith: The number symbolically encourages faith that the end of your trial will come!
Focus on the “41”: Believe that after this period of struggle, there is a coming breakthrough, triumph, or new beginning.

Here’s the encouraging word: Are you in the middle of your “40”? Forty-one is next! The rain will stop, the giant will fall, and you will enter your “promised land.” Don’t give up at 40…Your 41 is coming!

God bless you and bring you through your trial and into your triumph!