“The Number 12.”


God cares even about numbers

1Chron 1-2 We order our days by the number 12 but what is the significance of the number 12 in scripture? While giving us the genealogical record of several men like Jacob, this number has more meaning than we realize. If one follows that train of thought, you will find that it is just not a number of hours in a half-day, but it has something to do with the authority or perfection often used in the context of government. There were 12 sons of Jacob, 12 Minor Prophets, Manasseh was 12 when he began to rule, 12 disciples, and 12 years the woman was afflicted with a blood disease. Also, there are 12 gifts of the Holy Spirit as noted (get this!) in the twelfth chapter of 1Corinthians! There are 12 gates in the New Jerusalem, 12 foundations, and 12 names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. [Rev 21] God has a purpose that we may often gloss over.

Dr. Constable quoting Dr. Morris, notes, “The combination of the twelve tribes in verse 12 and the twelve apostles is a way of saying that Israel of old and the Christian church are united in God’s final scheme of things.”

The next time you read, note closely what the Holy Spirit states regarding the order of people, places, and things.  Even the psalmist noted in 90:12 that our prayer should be teach us to number our days so we might live wisely. God has put them there for a reason, and it behooves us to extract what that is.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *