What’s The Significance Of The Number 7

Throughout the Bible, God often gives symbolic significance to mundane items or concepts. For example, in Genesis 9:12-16, God makes the rainbow the sign of His promise to Noah (and by extension, to all mankind) That He will not flood the whole earth again. God uses bread as a representation of Bis presence with His people Numbers 4:7); of the gift of eternal life (John 6:35); and of the broken body of Christ, sacrificed for our sins (Matthew 26:26). The rainbow and the bread are obvious symbols in scripture. Less obvious meaning seem to be attached to some numbers in the Bible, especially the number 7, which at times provides a special emphasis in the text.

The first use of the number 7, to the creation weekend genesis 1. God spent six days creating the heavens in the earth, and then rests on the 7th day. The 7th day was to be set apart and was a holy day of rest (Deuteronomy 5:12).

Right at the start of the Bible the number 7 is identified with something being “finished” or “complete.” From then on, the association continues, as 7 is often found in contacts involving completeness or divine perfection. So we see the command for the animals to be at least 7 days old before being used for sacrifices in ancient times (Exodus 22:30), The command for leprous Naaman to bathe in the Jordon River 7 times to effect complete cleansing (2 Kings 5:10), and to the command to Joshua to March around Jericho for 7 days (and on the 7th day to make 7 circuits) and for 7 priests to blow 7 shofars outside the city walls (Joshua 6:3-4). In these instances 7 signifies a completion of some kind: a divine mandate is fulfilled,

Interestingly, man was created on the sixth day of creation. Some passages in the Bible, the number 6 is associated with mankind. In Revelation 13-18 “The number of the beast” is called the “number of man.” That number is 666 (Revelation 3:23). If God’s number is 7, then man’s number is 6. Six always boss short of seven, just like “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Man it’s not God, just as 6 is not 7.

Series of seven things crop up often in the Bible. For example, we find seven pairs of each queen animal on Noah’s ark (Genesis 7:2); seven stems on the tabernacles lamp stand (Exodus 25:37); seven signs in John’s Gospel; seven things the Lord these in Proverbs 6:16; seven parables in Matthew 13; and seven woes in Matthew 23.

Multiples of 7 also figure into the biblical narrative: “seventy weeks” prophecy and Daniel 9:24 concerns 490 years (7 times 7 times 10). Jeremiah 29:10 predicted the Babylonian captivity that would last for 70 years (7 times 10). According to Leviticus 25:8, the Year of Jubilee was to begin after the passing of every 49th year (7 times 7).

Sometimes, the symbolism of the number 7 is a great comfort to us: Jesus is the seven-fold “I AM” in the gospel of John. Other times, it challenges us: Jesus told Peter to forgive a wrongdoer “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18 22). And then there are passages in which the number 7 is associated with God‘s judgment: the seven bowls of the great tribulation for example in Revelation 16:1, or gods warning to Israel in Leviticus 26:18.

Speaking of the book of Revelation, the number 7 if you use more than 50 times in a variety of contacts: there are seven letters seven churches in Asia and seven spirits before God’s throne (Revelation 1:4)). sevem golden lampstands (Revelation 1:16), seven seals of God judgment (Revelation 5:1), seven Angels rest seven shofars (Revelation 8:2). In all likelihood, the number 7 represents completeness or totality churches represent the completeness of the body of Christ: the 7 The seven churches represent the completeness of the body of Christ. The seven seals on the scroll represents the fullness of God‘s punishment of a simple earth, and so on. And, of course, the book of Revelation itself, with all its 7’s, is the capstone of God’s Word to man. With the complete book of Revelation, the Word was complete (Revelation 22:18).

In all, the number 7 is used in the Bible more than 700 times. If we also include the word related to seven times (terms like seven-fold or seventy or seven hundred), the count is higher. Of course, not every instance of the number 7 in the Bible carry deeper significance. Sometimes a7 is just a 7, and we must be cautious about attaching symbolic meaning to any text, especially which group here is not explicit about such meanings. However, there are times when it seems that God is communicating the idea of divine completeness, perfection, and wholeness by the means of the number 7.

The Shepherds In The Field

Imagine being a shepherd in ancient Israel: Your job is mundane, dirty, and maybe even a little frightening. You are out in the wilderness, away from any town, the only light you see at night comes from the fire around which we are huddled and the moon hanging overhead.

With the small field of vision, you’re supposed to not only keep track of the sheep but also protect them from any attacks.

Suddenly, you see a supernatural brightness- “the glory of the Lord” blinding you and there’s someone there, unlike anything you’ve seen before. Perhaps you immediately recognize that it’s the angel of the Lord, or maybe you are so confused that it takes a minute to sink in that this being is from the heavenly realm. Either way, you are so awe-struck that the angels first words are, “Do not be afraid.”

He says “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be for all people. For these is one born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this is a sign for you. You will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.”

I often wonder if the shepherds fell to the ground during this overwhelming experience. We know they were in fear, but can you imagine the flood of emotions they felt as they realized that the angel of the Lord was proclaiming the good news of the arrival of the Messiah!

The Messiah that was promised since Genesis 3, who would come and rescue all of mankind. For the Jewish people, this was the one they had been longing for. And the shepherds were some of the first to hear of His arrival.

If the knees of the shepherds hadn’t buckled by this point, you can be sure they did when suddenly the skies lit up and one angel became “a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill toward men.

It was no surprise that they immediately started to follow the star of Bethlehem to find the Child in the manger, and returned glorifying and praising God.

The shepherds experienced fear, confusion, awe and joy on that historic night. Every time I tell this story I am filled with awe when I try to envision the shepherds perspective on that holy night.

Shine Like A Lighthouse

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. -John 12:46

One of the strongest images of standing strong in the storm is the lighthouse. In the era before radar, satellite navigation and GPS systems, lighthouses were vital to protect ships from crashing onto rocks, shoals and shores. Building lighthouses can be considered one of man’s most noble endeavors. Since the beginning of seafaring p, family and friends have lit bonfires at night to guide sailers home.

“I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouses. They were built only to serve” – George Bernard

Lighthouses were built to shine.

Jesus used this imagery of light to describe our role in His kingdom. We are the light of the world. He said after claiming Himself to be the true light. Therefore we should function much like a lighthouse, both internally and externally.

The first design for a lighthouse is the internal function of generating light. Early lighthouses used a literal fire that had to be constantly fed and watched. Later electric lights were utilized and ultimately laser lights. But this light still has to be internally projected.

So we too as followers of Jesus project internal light, the outer expression of the inner life under the control of the Holy Spirit.

The other aspect of a modern lighthouse is that it also is an external reflector. Over the years of improvements, revolving lenses have been developed to reflect that internally generated light further into the darkness.

As the moon reflects the light of the sun, so we should reflect the ,Ishtar of the Son in a world of darkness.

Lighthouses remind me of God’s love. Like the bright shining beam of a lighthouse. He love reaches out…piercing through the darkness of any storm.

“You are like the light of the world. A city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put in under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16.

Facing Adversity With Faith

When something disappointing happens, our first most natural reaction is denial. “Did this really just happen. It can’t be it must be a mistake.“

In order to overcome this and every adversity we face the first step we have to take is to face it. We have to accept what has happened, the longer we try to distance ourselves from it the harder it is to overcome it.

We have to accept what has happened and for most people that takes faith or trust in a higher plan. The idea is to take a deep breath, and stay in the present moment. It may seem strange but under your breath tell yourself:

“ I accept what is just happened. I am right here, right now and no where else. I am not alone. I trust in a higher power and I trust there isa good reason this is happening.” The hardest part is the we have an instinct to control the outcome. Don’t try to overcome the outcome. Let it play out. Do worry about the future or obsess with the past.

Staying in the present is the first step. We are put in situations for good reasons. Facing those situations means staying in the now, in the present tense. Don’t torture yourself with the “What if’s?” or the should’ve, could’ve, would’ve.” The more you resist facing adversity the more suffering you will experience. The goal is to accept adversity with serenity, faith, and dignity.

Allow the misfortune to enter your life and be able to tell yourself “Okay, this happened. I’m not dead, I’m not defeated. This is a loss. This is a setback. That’s all. I will overcome this with faith, with forgiveness, with learning and appreciation, with giving and by taking focused action.

We cannot make any decision when we are faced with adversity and when we are upset, and our emotions are controlling us. If you have to walk away do so, but then come back to what just happened and then take action with faith and a clear focused mind.