Why Does God Act through Specific Numerical Patterns?

The number three appears many times in the Bible. Right off the bat, we might think about how Jesus died and rose in three days, the Trinity is three-in-one, or that Jonah was in the big fish for three days. 

Hope Bollinger shares, “Three, shelosh [f.], sheloshah [m.] means harmony, new life, and completeness. The number three appears in the Bible 467 times, fewer than seven but more than most of the other symbolically important number. Sometimes, three is used as an emphatic Semitic triplet to describe the intensity of something. It’s not just holy. It’s holy, holy, holy.”

I love how when God wants to make a point, He often says something three times. Here are some instances where He shares a word or message three times: 

• When the Lord called “Samuel!” as a boy. (1 Samuel 3:1-10) 
• “Feed my sheep” to reconcile Peter after he denied Jesus three times. (John 21:15-17)
• The four living creatures continuously cry out “Holy, Holy, Holy.” (Isaiah 6:5 and Revelation 4:8)
• “Woe! Woe! Woe!” is written in Revelation as a warning. (Revelation 8:13) 

K. Gallagher from writes, “Seeds were also created on day three of creation. The natural function of seeds teaches death, burial, and resurrection to new life. Mashiach is the ‘Seed of the Woman’ that will overcome the seed of the serpent (Gen. 3:15).”

This is a really beautiful viewpoint. Seeds and trees were created on the third day of creation. The way that a seed connects to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is incredible. Even back before the creation of mankind, the salvation plan was revealed through the nature God was bringing forth. 

Other times we see the number three in Scripture include:

3 Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are often listed together. (Matthew 22:33)

3 Gifts from the wise men: Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-12)  

Parable of the Talents: The Master entrusts three servants with various amounts of talents (5, 2, and 1) while He is away in hopes that they multiply His gifts. (Matthew 25:14-30)

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Seven is the number of completion. God created everything and then rested in seven days. When we think about seven days in a week and seven as a time of completion, we remember how this involved six days of work and one day of rest. The Lord perfectly modeled how to work with intention, but also enjoy and celebrate the fruit of His labor.

There are seven feasts that the Jews celebrate in Scripture:

1. Passover
2. Unleavened Bread
3. First Fruits
4. Feast of Weeks
5. Feast of Trumpets
6. Yom Kippur
7. Feast of Tabernacle

There are also seven churches that receive letters in Revelation:

1. Ephesus
2. Smyrna
3. Pergamum
4. Thyatira
5. Sardis
6. Philadelphia
7. Laodicea

Hope Bollinger shares, “We see seven appear more than 700 times throughout the Bible.”

Seven shows up so many times that we know God has intentional uses for the number. He reminds us with the number seven of His perfection and completeness. We think about how He is working and never falls short of wholeness. Even in a world filled with failure and sin, our Savior has never failed to come through. What He begins, He brings to completion (Philippians 1:6).

K. Gallagher writes of the number seven, “hvah [f.], sheevah [m.] Rest, cessation from work, wholeness, completeness, being ripe, order, stability, and holiness. He also shares that blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat seven times on Yom Kippur (Lev. 16:14). We must forgive our brothers and sisters seventy times seven times (Mt. 18:21; Luke 17:4), and Mary Magdalene had seven evil spirits cast from her (Mark 16:9, Pr. 6:16-19).

The number seven reminds us that our God never falls short, He is always working wholly and fully, and He is the Creator who cares for His creation.

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Another very popular number in Scripture is 12. Initially I think of the 12 disciples of Jesus. He was specific in choosing this number, even after His death and resurrection, He filled the spot left by Judas with Matthias (Acts 1:12-26). This completed His 12 again. He saw value and purpose in having 12 leaders who were among Him during His entire ministry and able to communicate that gospel after having known Jesus personally before and after His resurrection.

You may also be think about the 12 tribes of Israel named after the 12 sons of Jacob. Jesus was prophesied to come from the tribe of Judah. The 12 tribes were significant to the people of God and the dividing of the promise land.

Andy Lee shares, “The number 12 is found 187 times in the Bible." He goes on to say in regard to the number 12, “This stands for the completeness of His governing authority… Ultimately, the meaning of the numbers in the Bible, especially the number 12, point to hope.”

Other places we see 12 in the Bible include:

12 Minor Prophets

1. Hosea
2. Joel
3. Amos
4. Obadiah
5. Jonah
6. Micah
7. Nahum
8. Habakkuk
9. Zephaniah
10.  Haggai
11.  Zechariah
12.  Malachi

There were also 12 loaves of unleavened bread (Leviticus 24:5-7)

Jesus went to the temple at the age of 12 and His first words are mentioned in the Scriptures (Luke 2:41-52).

In Revelation, we read about the New Jerusalem which will have 12 gates, 12 angels, and 12 foundations (Revelation 21:12-14). Also, the tree of life has 12 crops, 12 times a year (Revelation 22:1-3).

Elijah used 12 stones to make an altar for Yahweh against Baal (1 Kings 18:31-35).

Jesus performs miracles for the woman who bled for 12 years and the girl who died at age 12, whom Jesus resurrected (Luke 8:40-56).

Gallagher writes: “Twelve shtayim esre [f.] shnayim asar [m.] perfect government, order, organization, united, perfect subdivisions of time (12 hours in day, 12 months in a year, 12 primary constellations) and of people (12 tribes of Israel, 12 Disciples/Apostles).”

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Lastly, we will look at the number 40. The number 40 is shown throughout the Old and New Testament, and when we see it, there appear to be themes of testing, refinement, or repentance. There are many prayer challenges today that encourage 40 days of circling the same prayer requests during a 40-day period. Whitney Hopler says, “The phrase ’40 days’ is mentioned in the Bible more than 20 times – some in the Old Testament and some in the New Testament.”

Where do we see the number 40 in the Bible?

40 days during the flood in the time of Noah: Genesis 7

40 years in the desert for the Israelites Punishment: Numbers 14:34

Moses met with God for 40 days and 40 nights when getting the 10 Commandments: Exodus 24:18

Elijah fasted for 40 days: 1 Kings 19:8 

Goliath mocked Israel for 40 days before David defeated him: 1 Samuel 17:16

Ezekiel laid on his right side for 40 days on behalf of the sins of Judah: Ezekiel 4:5-6

Nineveh repented for 40 days after Jonah shared God’s message with them: Jonah 3:4

Jesus was in the Wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights: Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus appeared to people for 40 days after His resurrection: Acts 1:1-3

As we admire the various ways that God has worked through specific numbers, may we remember the Lord has purposes and plans for how and when He works. He is glorious in every way and we worship Him for His greatness and mathematical genius.

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