Page 141 - Foundations
P. 141
Creation by the Numbers
"Numbers constitute the only universal language." Nathanael West
"Nature's great book is written in mathematics." Galileo
"Mathematics is a more powerful instrument of knowledge than any other that has been bequeathed
to us by human agency." Descartes
Whatever you think about the quotations above, it is an inescapable fact that the creation was formed
with great mathematical precision. Galileo declared that mathematics is the language in which
nature’s book is written. If anything, the famed astronomer is guilty of understatement. Yahweh not
only has fashioned the heavens and the earth with a remarkable degree of mathematical precision and
order, He also uses numbers to communicate spiritual truth.
Numbers in the Bible are not random. They are associated with ideas. Numbers in Scripture are
utilized consistently to demonstrate a type of coded communication. Those who understand their
meaning are able to recognize the divine design that has chosen certain numbers in specific
associations. Patterns that are recognized in this way guide the reader to further insight into the
message God is communicating through His word.
An example of a number being associated with a specific idea is observed in the number twelve.
Yahweh has chosen this number to communicate an idea of “divine election and perfected
government.” Jacob had twelve sons who became the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. Yahshua
chose twelve men to be His disciples and to serve as apostles to establish the first foundations of the
church. In the book of Revelation we read of the overcomers who stand with the Savior on Mount
Zion. These overcomers will rule and reign with Christ during the millennial period. Their number
is given as 144,000 - 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. This repetition of the number
twelve is not mere coincidence. Yahweh has determined that this number convey the idea of election
and government.
Another profoundly significant number invested with divine meaning is seven. In the very first
