#28 – Numbers! They’re Everywhere! – September 5, 2024
Matthew 10:30, “But even the hairs of your head are numbered.”
Have you ever thought about how many times during the day we depend, or acknowledge, numbers? We watch the numbers on the clock, the number of degrees we set our oven on for cooking, what channels we listen to on the radio or TV, how many miles we travel from one place to another, lottery numbers, our age, etc. Numbers are important to us. They’re important to God too. He lets us know how important, by the numbers He has shown us in the scriptures.
For instance; the number 3 is one of four spiritually perfect numbers only to a lesser degree than seven. Both mean completeness. The other two are 10 and 12.
There were 3 Patriarchs of Israel; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There are three attributes of God; gracious, compassionate/merciful, and loving kindness (Exodus 33:18-19). Jesus was missing three days when He was 12 (1+2=3), Jesus began His ministry when He was 30 (3+0=3), Jesus prayed 3 times in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest, and Peter denied Him 3 times. Judas was paid 30 (3+0=3) pieces of silver for his betrayal of our Lord and after His crucifixion and burial He arose after the 3rd day. Remember 1 Corinthians 13:13, “…now abide faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love”. And most importantly is the three that form the Trinity; The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The number 7 seems to be the most significant, as it is the higher meaning of completion. The number 7 appears in the Bible more than 600 times; God rested on the 7th day, Jacob labored 7 years to win the hand of Rachel, Egypt suffered 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine during Joseph’s time, and Namman was told to dip in the Jordon River 7 times to cure his leprosy. Revelation is loaded with 7’s, including 7 churches, 7 seals, 7 angels, 7 trumpets, 7 golden bowls, 7 stars, 7 hills, etc. Then in Matthew 18:22 when Peter asks Jesus how many times should he forgive his brother, “As many as 7 times”? and Jesus answers with, “Not 7 times, but seventy-seven times”. This indicates that there is no limit on how many times someone should be forgiven.
The number 12 is definitely a number to pay attention to. Jacob had 12 sons that became the fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel. Revelation doubles down on the symbolism of 12 mentioning it 22 times in relation to the New Jerusalem that will descend to Earth after the Second Coming of Christ. In Revelation chapter “7” it tells us about the 144,000 that are sealed for salvation with 12,000 chosen from each of the 12 tribes of Israel, noting that the new city will be “12,000 furlongs squared”. And we mustn’t forget that Jesus himself chose 12 special men to be His disciples.
Then, of course, there is the number 40; a time of trial and testing. Thanks to the credit of McKenzie Miller, I came across the following that can give a great example for paying special attention to this wonderful number.
- In the days of Noah, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights…day 41 came, and the rain stopped.
- Moses committed murder and hid in the desert for 40 years…year 41 came, and God called him to help rescue Israel.
- Moses went up on the mountain for 40 days…day 41 came, and he received the Ten Commandments.
- The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years…year 41 came, and they walked into the Promised Land.
- Goliath taunted Israel for 40 days…day 41 came, and David slew him.
- Jonah preached a message of repentance to Ninevah for 40 days…day 41 came, and God stopped His plan to destroy them.
- Jesus fasted and was tempted for 40 days…day 41 came, and the devil fled.
- After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples for 40 days…day 41 came, and Jesus ascended into Heaven.
All this to say…don’t quit. The rain will stop, the giant will fall, and you will enter your “promised land”. Don’t give up at 40…because 41 is coming!
There is one other number I’d like to bring to your attention that you probably never gave a second thought to; the number 153. Yes, it is in the Bible. Matthew 21:11, “Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.”
We have to wonder…why is this even relevant, and why that specific number of fish? Well, according to a commentary I came across, St. Jerome, who lived in the fifth century A.D., said that a zoologist told him that there were 153 species of fish in the world at that time. This verse is relevant to indicate that there was room in the Church (the “net) for all of the races of mankind. This makes John 3:16 even more special.
As you study the scriptures, remember to pay attention to numbers and be assured that God put them there for a very specific reason.
When things are troubling you, when you think you’ve reached your limit, when difficulties have you in a bind, just hold on because…
41 is coming!!!
Nancy Stoppe
(Jenner Township Baptist Church, Boswell, PA 15531)
Blog – inspirationalinsights6.com
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