Numbers Have Meaning

John 21:11
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."


You've probably heard before that no detail in scripture is arbitrary or insignificant, right?  Numbers are no exception.  The Holy Spirit, through His Jewish secretaries, tells us the incomparable story of Jesus, over and over and over again, pointing out wonderful truths to bless us!

Hebrew doesn't use numbers like we do in the West; they use letters.  Each letter is a picture of something, like Chinese, as well as having a numerical value, lending to a greater understanding and deeper appreciation of Jesus!

Here are a few examples:
3:  The Number of Resurrection.
#1. Jesus rose from the dead on the 3rd day.
#2. On the 3rd day, God commanded dry land to appear out of the waters; a picture of resurrection.

#3.  On the 3rd day God will raise us up that we may live in His sight, according to Hosea.  This speaks of the "harpadzó," or snatching away of the Church, which most know as the rapture.

Throughout scripture Bible, are many occurrences of the number 3; but it' s not only the actual number itself.  It could be some event or thing mentioned 3 times.  This applies to all other numbers, too.

(Samuel anoints David)

5:  The Number of Grace
#1. The 5th time David's name was mentioned, Saul said of David, "he hath found favour (i.e. grace) in my sight," 1 Sam. 16:22

#2. The 5th time Ruth's name is mentioned, she said in Chapter 2:2 " And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, 'Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace.' "

#3. The 5th time Noah's name is mentioned it says of him, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." Genesis 6:8. 

The first time grace is mentioned in the Bible here in this verse.  Noah means "rest;" so literally "rest found grace!"  The best way to receive God's grace is when we're "resting" in the finished work.


This next number gets me really excited!  

17:  The Number of VICTORY.
#1. Rom. 9:35-39
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"
He (Paul) by the Holy Spirit, goes on to mention 17 things that cannot separate us from God's love.
#2. Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery.
His whole story started on a victorious note in God's eyes.
#3. David, when he slew Goliath, was 17 years of age.
# 4. On the day of Pentecost when the disciples were baptized in the Holy Spirit, they spoke with other tongues. They are listed in the text. Care to guess how many?
Yep; 17!
Seventeen different languages.

(Peter preaching on Pentecost.)

Now this is COOL!
#5. After Jesus rose from the dead, He went down to the Sea of Galilee where the disciples had been fishing all night but had caught nothing. Jesus told them in John 21:6 “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish."
THEY HAD TO DRAG THE NET TO SHORE!

11"Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three;"

Since we're talking about numbers, let's do a little math!  

1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13+14+15+16+17=153!

Here is something else of great significance to which, or should I say, "to Whom," the number "153" points:

But the best, I have saved for last! 

The ark rested on Mt. Ararat on the 17th day of the 7th month. 

Jesus rose from the dead on the 17th day of the first month, which, believe it or not, is the exact same day! 

You see, In Moses' time, God told him that the 7th month, Nissan, would now the first month of the year to the Isaraelites.  This is when Passover was instituted.  He was pointing us to His beloved Son.

"Arar" in Hebrew, means "curse."  "Ararat" means "the curse is reversed!  

17= VICTORY!!!
AWESOME GOD!!!  AWESOME SAVIOR!!!  THANK YOU, JESUS!!!

Oh yeah.....Numbers have meaning!