Divine Symmetry: 110

Many thanks to all who have completed the Reader Poll... interesting results so far. Those who haven't registered yet, please do.


Today's post is brought to you by the number 110.

I have posted on this before, but as it was back in the early days when I averaged about 1 hit a fortnight, there's no harm in revisiting it. Anyone who can remember it from the first time round gets extra brownie-points!

Joseph lived 110 years, as did Joshua. I am struck by this symmetry in the Word, between the man who led the people of Israel into Egypt, and the man who led them back into Canaan.

Both Joseph and Joshua are types of Christ. I have already mentioned about the typology of Joseph, but the typology of Joshua is just as strong. Joshua was the conquering commander of God's people who led them in victory after victory to take hold of their inheritance. In fact even his name is identical to Jesus. It is only because Joshua is transliterated directly from the Hebrew Old Testament, and Jesus is transliterated via the Greek of the New Testament that the names are different. In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament) Joshua is called Jesus too!

The early church historian Eusebius makes much of this. In a great insight he points out that the two men that Moses had with him in the tent of God's presence, both had their names changed prophetically. Aaron became the high priest, the anointed one; and Hoshea son of Nun, had his name changed to Joshua. Thus in the Greek, these two men with Moses before the Lord were "Christ" and "Jesus"; just one more way the whole testimony of Scripture points forwards to our Lord.

This symmetry then becomes highly significant. Egypt was a time of sorrow and trial for God's people. Yet God wants it to be clear, that the same Lord who led them in would also lead them out! This is something we see repeated many times in Scripture, in particular in the book of Daniel. God does not always spare his people from the time of trial, but he is always with them in it, they only last an allotted time, and he always leads them out stronger than when they went in. The people of Israel went into Egypt as 70 individuals, but emerged as a mighty nation of over half a million!

So apart from this symmetry, is 110 in itself significant as a number? Maybe! I'd like to put forward that 110 is significant, in terms of times of trial for God's people, as being 40 + 70. We see this pattern in the very last chapter of Genesis. In the same passage where we are told that Joseph lived 110 years, we are also told the times of preparation and mourning for Israel (Jacob): 40 days, and 70 days respectively. Just like the flood, this period of 40 days reoccurs in Scripture as a time of preparation and testing; and both 40 years and 70 years represent times of mourning for Israel (the people) as the time in the wilderness, and the exile in Babylon.

By placing these two types of Christ, like book ends, either side of the time of trial in Egypt, and linking them with a number also representative of trials, God is revealing himself as the God who is there for us in every fiery-furnace of life. Trials may come, but God is always faithful. He is always with you, his strength is always available to you. You can and will overcome all that life can throw at you, and in the end, God will lead you out with increased strength to a place of greater blessing. In the 24 years of my walk with the Lord, I can testify this is always true.

Enough of the shadows and types, let us come out into the light, and see what the reality himself has to say on this matter:

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (Jn 16:33)

Bread and Wine: Death, Resurrection and Return!

I love the Old Testament; it's all about Jesus! When the risen Christ walked with his disciples along the Emmaus road it is recorded that "beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." These Scriptures were not the New Testament (which had not been written yet) but the Old! All of the Old Testament points towards Jesus; on that walk, Jesus took any passage, and showed how through typology, symbolism and prophetic imagery they all ultimately served to point to him. This should not surprise us when we think about it, for all the Scriptures, New Testament and Old, were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and his ultimate ministry is to testify about the Son (Jn 15:26). Indeed the whole of history, from God's point of view, is really His story.

I have been reading the account of Joseph lately. Joseph himself is a "type" of Christ in the Old Testament: He left the place of honour at his father's side, was betrayed by his brothers, entered this King's service in humble and lowly sate, yet was raised in glory to his right hand, and through him many who otherwise would have perished were saved. Yet even within this account there are yet further details which testify towards Jesus and his work on the cross.

In Genesis 40 we read the account of Joseph's two visitors while he was in prison: the royal baker and the king's cupbearer. One was responsible to give the King bread, the other wine. Both had dreams, and Joseph interpreted them both.

“Do not interpretations belong to God?" (Ge 40:8)

The interpretations and the resulting fate of the two men were very different, but both were fulfilled within three days. The baker was sentenced to death and "hung on a tree", while the cupbearer was restored to his position of honour at the king's side. It was from this position, that the cupbearer (eventually!) called forth Joseph from out of prison too.

By now it should be obvious that both these men, what they represented, and what happened to them point towards Jesus. He was sentenced to death, hung on a tree, yet on the third day he was gloriously raised to life, and restored to his eternal place at the Father's right hand in glory. From there he will also return to take us to be with him. This is what we celebrate when we take the bread and wine of the new covenant meal.

It is important therefore that when we take the bread and wine, we do not just remember his death, making ourselves solemn by picturing the pain. It is indeed wonderful what the Lord endured on our behalf, but this is just part of the story. When we break bread, we are "proclaiming the Lord's death until he comes" (1Co 11:26). It does not speak ultimately of death, but of resurrection and return. Our Lord is not dead, but ALIVE! He is no longer on the cross, but risen gloriously, having conquered every enemy, and seated above every power and authority at the right hand of God in majesty. We do not just look back to the pain of Calvary, but forwards to the glory of the consumation. Our Lord is alive! Our Lord is risen! Our Lord is seated in glory. Our Lord is King of kings and Lord of lords. Our Lord has all authority in heaven, and on earth, and under it. There is nothing that is not subject to his authority. He now waits in heaven for us to take that authority and bring his Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven... and then at the fullness of time.... our Lord is coming again! Hallelujah!

The Unnamed Servant

Back to Genesis 24 and the story of Isaac and Rebekah. While I was preparing for the word I brought on Sunday, I noticed something else that is significant in this passage. There are some interesting details about the anonymous servant whose activities take up most of the chapter: He is dispatched from the Father on behalf of the Son, to call the Bride. When the Bride receives him, he lavishes her with Gifts, and prepares her to be presented to the Son. Remind you of anyone? It seems that in this passage we have a symbolic representation of Father, Son, Bride (Church) and Holy Spirit! What a great passage of scripture!!

What struck me in particular is that the gifts the servant gave to Rebekah were like her wedding ornaments. They were what prepared her to be presented. The prophet Jeremiah says something very significant about wedding ornaments:

Does a maiden forget her jewellery, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number. (Jer 2:32)

If it is inconceivable that a bride would turn up on her wedding day without her dress or her makeup, her jewelry or her flowers, so too it is inconceivable that the church can be prepared to be the bride of Christ without the gifts that the Spirit gives. They are not just optional extras for the "charismatic" side of the church. They are essential tools to get the job done. By both cultivating the fruits, and lavishing the gifts, the Spirit makes the church beautiful like a bride ready for the bridegroom, by transforming us to a greater reflection of the image of Jesus.

Some of these gifts are people (Ephesians 4) and these gifts of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers are just as essential if the bride is to be prepared to be presented. In fact the clear implication in Ephesians 4 is that we cannot reach maturity without them. They are aspects of Christ, given by Christ, to form Christ in the church, and so prepare the bride to be presented to Christ.

I love the way that the whole message of scripture is unified around the great eternal purpose of the Father for the Son in the Church. This is what the Spirit within us is working towards.

Abraham: Fellowship with the Father's heart

I have been reading the account of Abraham. It has struck me again, how this man, whose original name meant "exalted Father" and whose name given by God meant "Father of Nations" was chosen by God to enjoy a very special closeness with his own Father's heart. God himself is the ultimate Father. He is not just described as a father because he looked around in retrospect for something natural to compare himself with, but he is THE FATHER, from whom all fathers derive that position. He is the very definition of what it is to be a father. One of the most precious things in the world, next to finding saving grace in Christ, is to become a father and to experience some of that life-changing love that beats within the very heart of our God.

Abraham in particular, I believe was chosen by the Father to experience a special measure of closeness to His own Fatherhood.

First, he had to sacrifice his one and only Son. Something that as fathers is the most precious and sacred thing to us. Who can know the anguish that went through the Father's heart when he sent the Son to the cross? The anguish of the Son is recorded for us in Gethsemane where is tears fell like blood. But of the anguish of the Father, we have no direct account. Only through certain men in the scriptures: Abraham by his obedience, and Jephthah by his foolishness, do we gain an insight into what he endured. God chose Abraham to go through this testing "ordeal" not just to prove his faith, but to share his fellowship. A fellow father who could understand something of what the Father was to do on that very mountain some 2000 years later.

Next, we are told an account of how Abraham dispatched his servant to find a pure and suitable bride for his son. In this way he again captures the heart of our heavenly Father. This is the purpose of redemptive history, the culmination of the Kingdom, that the zeal of the Lord Almighty is single-mindedly and passionately throwing himself into. He is looking for a bride for his son. The Church, Christ's bride is being prepared by the Spirit of God, sent ahead with his message to come, and his gifts to prepare her. All he is looking for is for that willing spirit he found in Rebekah.

We often consider fellowship with Christ and with the Spirit, yet throughout the history of man we find that the Father himself is seeking fellowship with the man he made. That was the very reason he was created.

Lessons from 10 Kings

No, it's not a new book of the Bible. I'm making reference to the account in Genesis 14.

The synopsis is as follows. The king of Shinar [Babylon] and three other kings, make war against the five kings of Canaan. The four defeat the five, and invade Canaan, taking loot and captives, including Lot, Abram's nephew. Abram rallies his own forces, 318 home-grown heroes and chases after and defeats the four kings and reclaims his captive nephew. On his return from the plunder he meets two kings, one of the defeated five — the king of Sodom, and a tenth king previously and subsequently unmentioned — the king of Salem. He refuses to accept any reward from the king of Sodom, and gives a tithe (a tenth of all he had) to the King of Salem who was also a priest of God.

There's so much here. We often think of Abraham the man of faith who believed God for his son and heir, but here we see that even before this event he was still a mighty man of faith.

• Boldness — Even though the combined might of five kingdoms had not stopped the invaders. Abraham did not hesitate to take them on with just the members of his household. This is the same spirit of bold faith that enabled David to stand against Goliath. Victory comes from the Lord, not from might or numbers.


• Victory — Notice that although the story ends with a mighty and miraculous victory it begins with calamity. Lot, Abram nephew is captured. Being bold and faith-filled men of God does not mean that nothing bad will ever happen to us or our families. But if we are bold men of faith we will not let such calamity be the end of the story, but it will provoke us to press in to receive a greater victory from the Lord.


• Integrity — Abram did not want to be associated in any way with the king of Sodom. He recognised the corruption there and wanted no part of it. He could have easily decided pragmatically that his enemy's enemy was his friend, but he made no such compromise.


• Recognition — Here we have the first recorded account of the principle of tithing. Abram recognised two important things when he tithed. First, all he had came from God, as his source of provision who gave him the means to get the wealth. Second, that the king and priest that he met represented God to him and so could receive what he gave to God.

Such men of faith are blessed by the Lord.

"Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." (Ge 14:19b-20a)