Statistics and numbers were an interesting part of my former life as a banker. I spent 42 years before retiring from that occupation by observing, handling and balancing sums and figures as do all who are still employed in those capacities. This type work was mentally challenging and you hear a lot of success stories, but many more sad ones. I’m glad that part of my life is over. We never kept up with “the Joneses” at our home by overspending or like some, trying to be overly competitive in business, by excessive borrowing because stress and ulcers will occur particularly at repayment time.
My life now as a Massage Therapist at our business is basically stress free. We are interested mainly in making individual clients feel better with quality care and less interested in numerical volume or quantity. Still, around town I hear interesting numbers in daily communication with people. For example one told of friends getting married in October. They timed it perfectly so that they were pronounced married at 10 minutes past 10 a.m. on 10/10/10. Thinking ahead, now that it’s November, next year someone can be married at 11 minutes past 11 a.m. or p.m. on 11/11/11.
There are many statistics and numbers in the Bible. I am not writing about what individual numbers mean or about the supposedly coded numbers or passages, but our Bible often mentions specific numerical data. Abram heard from the Lord: “I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.” - Genesis 13:16-NIV. Here’s another: “Look up at the heavens and count the stars-- if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” - Genesis15:5-NIV.
Women compared David against Saul in this verse: “As they danced, they sang Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” -1 Samuel 18:7-NIV. Around this era David separated those with musical ability to play harps, psalteries and cymbals: “Along with their relatives –all of them trained and skilled in music for the Lord–they numbered 288.” -1 Chronicles 25:7-NIV.
We now have 12 million illegal aliens in the United States, but this is not a new problem. King Solomon had a similar situation in the nation of Israel. “Solomon took a census of all the aliens who were in Israel, after the census his father David had taken, and they were found to be 153,600.” - 2 Chronicles 2:17-NIV.
In this verse they counted just the great fishes maybe implying there were more caught: “Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.”- John 21:11-KJV.
This verse should give each saved individual confidence that our Heavenly Father keeps up with every tiny detail of our bodies, our lives and actions on this earth. The unsaved should be afraid. (29) “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny. Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. (30) And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (31) So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” - Matthew 10:29-31-NIV.
Jesus’ name’s sake is a priority over anything, including family, property or material possessions. Worshiping only Him is our answer, “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”-Matthew 19:29-KJV.
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