Hello Reader,

The past does not always determine the future. There is incredible value in paying attention to history. We find the same struggles, same patterns, same issues cropping up again and again across the pages of history. When we fail to learn from history, we are prone to the same failures as our ancestors.

The same is true within families. The same patterns, struggles, and issues can come up generation after generation, as trauma, abuse, or suffering cascade down from parent to child. We learn a lot about who we are as families, as individuals, and as a people by looking back at who we were or where we have been.

However, sometimes there is healing and redemption. Patterns can be reversed. Broken people can be healed. The path of an individual or family can be turned from darkness to light. In this issue of Theological Footnotes, I want to show you how God’s work of redemption can be seen in how he reverses the central symbolic meaning of certain numbers in the Bible. Let's look at three examples of how God took a number with one meaning and then redeemed it in a latter passage in the Bible.

[The following is an excerpt from my forthcoming book, Count the Stars: A Handbook on Biblical Numbers]

The Redemption of Numbers

The Bible is a story of redemption. After Adam and Eve sinned and were cast out of the Garden, creation entered into bondage to sin. Death became the fate of every person. Our hearts were turned away from God. All was not as it should be.

Yet, God did not leave us in sin, but came to rescue and redeem us. In Jesus Christ, God flipped the script on the human race. Instead of wicked, Jesus was righteous. Instead of disobedient, Christ obeyed completely. Instead of pouring out malice, Christ was full of compassion. Instead of taking advantage of and exploiting the poor, Christ raised them from the dust. Jesus set the captives free. He gave sight to the blind. He made the lame to walk. He entered the depths of death and took on the full weight of sin, but was raised to victorious life.

The Bible is a story of redemption. Just because something has always been this way does not mean it has to remain that way. God redeems in Jesus Christ.

Not every number in the Bible is a sign of faithfulness. There are patterns of sin and disobedience in the Bible that show up in repeated numbers. Yet, sometimes we will see God redeem even the numbers in the Bible. He will take the pattern of a particular number and turn it around, redeem it.

Repetition is a clue for us to pay attention in the Bible. However, noticing that a number repeats is only the first step. In many cases, the numbers follow a similar pattern throughout their appearance in the Bible. However, we should also keep our eyes and ears open for when God is reversing the course of a previous story. The repeated number is a clue that we should see these two stories as connected. Yet, instead of the second story continuing the pattern of the first, it does something quite different. When this happens, we should ask a key question: Does this passage continue or reverse the themes found in the other passages that have this number? Let’s look at three significant examples of the pattern of reversal in Scripture.

How Many Times?: Vengeance and Forgiveness

After Adam and Eve trust the lies of the serpent and eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they are cast out of the garden. Sin has entered the world and is worming its way into every nook and cranny of creation. In the aftermath, Adam and Eve have two sons: Cain and Abel. One day, both of them present their offerings to the Lord. Cain brings the fruit of the ground, while Abel brings the fat portions of the best of his flock. The Lord is pleased with Abel’s offering, but not as much with Cain’s. Cain becomes angry. God warns him about sin crouching at his door, but Cain does not heed the warning. He lures his brother out into a field and kills him. When asked about his brother’s location, Cain replies, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen. 4:10). The relationship between the first two brothers ends in jealousy and murder.

Cain has a son, Enoch, who has his own son, Irad. Irad has Mehujael. Mehujael has Methushael, and Mathushael has Lamech. Five generations are recorded until we get to Lamech. Cain, whose line began with jealousy and murder, culminates in Lamech. In Genesis 4:23-24, we encounter a significant number connected with Lamech:

“Lamech said to his wives:

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;

You wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:

I have killed a man for wounding me,

A young man for striking me.

If Cain is avenged sevenfold,

Truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

Lamech has been disproportionate in his response to injury. When he is simply wounded, he responds by killing the other person. When someone strikes him on the face, he ends that person’s life. He claims that his ancestor, Cain, had sevenfold vengeance on those who harmed him. Sevenfold, meaning full and complete revenge. However, Lamech goes above and beyond. He will be avenged seventy-seven times. For one small injury, Lamech will pay out incredible violence and retribution. This is the legacy of Cain. Not just complete revenge, but over-the-top violence upon anyone for any injury at all.

Seventy-seven times. Where else do we find that number in the Bible?

In Matthew 18, Peter comes to Jesus asking a question about forgiveness in the church. “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” (Mt. 18:21). Peter asks about the limits of forgiveness and gives what would have seemed a good and generous answer. We should forgive someone seven times for sinning against us. As we have seen, this would have meant a full and complete forgiveness. However, Jesus’ response would have drawn Peter (and should draw us) back to the story of Lamech. “Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times’” (18:22).

While Lamech proclaimed a seventy-sevenfold vengeance on anyone who injured him, Jesus proclaimed a seventy-sevenfold forgiveness for anyone who sins against us in the church. Both begin with the reality of being injured by another (physically, spiritually, emotionally, or otherwise). However, they are very different responses. The pathway of Cain and Lamech is jealousy and violence, while the pathway of Jesus is mercy and forgiveness. In this way, Jesus takes the root meaning of seventy-seven (extravagant, overabundant, boundless) and reverses it. Disciples of Jesus are called to practice forgiveness with the same level of extravagance as Lamech practiced revenge. The way of Jesus reverses the way of Cain and the two stories are connected through the presence of the same number — seventy-seven.

The Lord Added To Their Number: Death and Salvation

When God brings the people out of Egypt and across the Red Sea, he leads them through the wilderness to the foot of Mount Sinai. Moses goes up on Mount Sinai to meet with God, while the people waited at the foot of the mountain. God gives Moses detailed instructions about the construction of the tabernacle as well as the basics of how Israel was to live before God as his covenant people. Chapter after chapter is filled with instructions as God establishes his relationship with his people through a covenant.

However, all this takes a long time. The people grow impatient waiting for Moses. They go to Aaron and say, “Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know that has become of him” (Ex. 32:1). Aaron tells them to take off their gold rings, forms a mold and makes the image of a calf, saying, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” (Ex. 32:4). Aaron also makes an altar and the next day a festival is declared. The people bring sacrifices and begin to revel.

God is not pleased. He threatens to destroy the people for their idolatry and build a new nation through Moses. Moses intercedes and the Lord sends him down the mountain, carrying the two tablets of the covenant with God. When Moses sees what the people have done, he breaks the tablets (a visual sign that the covenant has been broken), destroys the calf, and makes the people drink the powder mixed with water (Ex. 32:19-20). Aaron blames the people and claims that the calf miraculously walked out of the fire when they threw in their gold (Ex. 32:22-24). As the events unfold, there is a curious detail — a number — that will connect with another story in the Bible:

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. He said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side, each of you! Go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill your brother, your friend, and your neighbor.’” The sons of Levi did as Moses commanded, and about three thousand of the people fell on that day. Moses said, “Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the LORD, each one at the cost of a son or a brother, and so have brought a blessing on yourselves this day.” (Ex. 32:25-29, emphasis added)

This should have been a day of celebration. God had brought his Law, established his covenant with his people. Yet, on that very day, it was already broken by the people worshipping false gods. To add to this tragedy, three thousand died at the foot of Mount Sinai as God’s judgment on the people.

Three thousand are killed. Where else in the Bible do we find the number three thousand?

The day God gave the Law on Mount Sinai was commemorated down through the ages in the feast of Pentecost. It was not only a feast of the first fruits of the harvest, but a reminder of the gift of God’s Law. On one Pentecost, after Jesus had died and risen from the grave, something amazing happened.

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability” (Acts 2:1-4)

As God gave his Law long ago on Pentecost, now he pours out his Holy Spirit upon the church. People are confused, wondering if they are drunk (“reveling” like back in Exodus 32). Peter responds with a powerful sermon tracing how the events of that day were the fulfillment of God’s Word and proclaiming Jesus as God’s promised Messiah. Those hearing the sermon are cut to the heart and wonder how they should respond to this message.

“Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves form this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:38-42, emphasis added)

On the first Pentecost, the covenant of God was broken by the people and three thousand were killed. The first Pentecost was a day of tragedy and death. However, on the later Pentecost, God poured out his Spirit and three thousand were saved. The second Pentecost is a day of salvation and life. At the first Pentecost, the people ate and drank and began to revel. At the second Pentecost, they are not drunk on wine, but filled with the Holy Spirit.

The same number appears in both stories, which is a clue to read them side-by-side. When we set Pentecost and Sinai next to each other, we see how Pentecost reverses the earlier story. The festival itself experiences resurrection as the Spirit brings salvation where there had once been death. In both stories, three thousand people are changed. In the former, they are moved from life to death. In the latter, they are moved from dead in sin to alive in Christ by the Spirit. The number three thousand serves as the connecting point that shows God’s redemptive work among his people.

Do You Love Me?: Denial and Restoration

The night of Jesus’ arrest is one of the most tragic and disorienting nights in his disciples’ lives. Despite Jesus telling them plainly that he will be betrayed and crucified (and rise again on the third day), they do not see it coming. The Twelve gather together for the Passover meal. Jesus says again that he will be betrayed and that his disciples will all desert him that very night. Jesus says to Peter:

“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your bothers.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me” (Luke 22:31-34)

Jesus prophesies that Peter will deny him three times, and three times Peter says that he does not know Jesus. The third time we hear, “But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he is still speaking, the cock crows. The Lord turns and looks at Peter. Then Peter remembers the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “”Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly” (Lk. 22:60-62). It all happens just as Jesus had promised.

Three times is a very specific number. In this instance, it is probably not helpful to try and see how this instance of “three” connects with every other “three” in the Bible, but to ask more specifically, “where else does three appear in the life of Peter?”

The next day after Jesus’ trial and Peter’s denial, Jesus is crucified. Three days later, he rises from the dead. The women find the empty tomb and tell the disciples. Peter races to the tomb and finds it empty. Jesus appears to the disciples over the next days, proving himself to be alive.

However, not long after this, Peter gathers several of the other disciples and they go fishing. Peter had been a fisherman when Jesus told him to leave his nets and follow him (Mt. 4:18-20). Now, having denied Jesus three times, Peter is back to fishing. Some suggest that Peter goes fishing because he wants to be where he first met Jesus, in the hopes of meeting him there again. Yet, I tend to think that Peter has gone back to his old life. He has failed as a disciple. He proclaimed that he would follow Jesus anywhere, even to death, but when the pressure was on, Peter failed.

The whole night, they catch nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stands on the beach and calls for them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. Once they do, the net is filled with fish. The disciples realize it is Jesus and head swiftly to shore. Peter doesn’t wait for the boat to get there, for he jumps into the sea in his urgency to see Jesus.

Jesus already has his own breakfast of fish ready and he invites the disciples to join him. During their conversation, the number three repeats. We are told, “This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead” (John 21:14). Most significantly, Jesus asks Peter the same question three times, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15, 16, 17). Why three times? How many times did Peter say that he didn’t know Jesus? How many times does Jesus ask Peter whether he loved him?

I think it is no accident that both events take place three times. This is a story of restoration for Peter. He is still a disciple of Jesus. He may have thought his failure meant that his time as a disciple was done and he should return to his old life and go back to his nets. However, Jesus still has a place for a failed disciple like Peter. Jesus still wants to know if Peter loves him. Jesus still calls Peter. “Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs’” (John 21:15). The presence of the three questions of Jesus connects back to the three denials of Peter. The restoration of Peter is signaled by the same threefold pattern.

Conclusion

This pattern of reversal is good news for all of us. Just because our life has gone down one path does not mean God cannot redeem it and turn it around. Jesus took the pattern of vengeance seen in Lamech and turned it into a pattern of forgiveness — extravagant and over-the-top. The Spirit took the pattern of disobedience, idolatry, and judgment seen at the foot of Mount Sinai and turned it into the redemption through the Gospel on Pentecost. Jesus took Peter’s denials, turned them around, and restored him as a beloved disciple of Jesus.

A repeated number is a clue to pay attention. Yet, sometimes what we see is not the continuing of the same old story, but God redeeming that old story into something beautiful and new. This is true not only of the numbers we see in the Bible, but our lives as well.

Cover for "Count the Stars: A Handbook on Biblical Numbers" by Stephen C. Shaffer

We finally have a cover!!!

I am so excited to share it with you. The book has gone through its initial rounds of editing and is being typeset. The goal is to release the book late summer, but I don't have a firm date yet.

If you are struggling to wait for this book, it is the second in a series of three planned books on how to read challenging sections of the Bible. The first, The Sinews of Scripture is available as a physical book here or as an e-book below.

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The Sinews of Scripture: A Handbook on Biblical Genealogies

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Writing Updates

Both April and May were very heavy months for me -- emotionally and spiritually -- and dealing with crises have prevented me from finding much time to write. I am still slowly working through The Body of Orthodox Doctrine (my translation project), editing a manual on training elders and deacons, and sketched out a few ideas for what books may come after Count the Stars. However, I have put little pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) in the last month. I have been recording videos for a course I am teaching in the Fall, so I have also not had time to put more videos on my Youtube channel.

The sky may be clearing soon in some of my other areas of life, so hopefully that will mean a more full return to this joyous ministry.

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