Rector's Ramblings

Rector’s Ramblings

By The Rev. Jim Stewart

     Lately I have been reading a lot about the first five books of the bible and find it quite interesting.  It always amazes me to go back and read something I have studied many times before.  It can change drastically with my age and knowledge.  Counting and numbers always fascinate me with the way they can change the way we look at something. 

     There are people who love written language and then there are those that love math.

     We learn that Abraham was 175 years old when he died, Isaac was 180 and Jacob was 147.  I never thought much about this until I saw the prime numbers descending with a series of numbers increasing.  Abraham is (7 x5²) = 175, Isaac is (5 x 6²) = 180, and Jacob was (3 x 7²) = 147.  Prime numbers multiplied descending in order beside series numbers increasing.  This always reminds me of our solstice.  During the summer solstice we find the celebration of John the Baptist as the days are long and start to lose daylight until the winter solstice when we celebrate Jesus’s birth where daylight is less increasing throughout the next six months.  John must become weaker while Jesus becomes stronger.

     Other numbers have significant meaning throughout the bible and can also confound me 7, 12, 144,000 and so on.  Life has a way of catching our attention and making us contemplate on God’s Word.

     Although I am a numbers person always interested in the way that they are yes or no if you’re into writing computer programs 0 or 1. There are times I must ask why.  Why is this important?  Because we are all individuals and have a special gift given from God and God includes all of us in His creation.

     What I find interesting may cause others to be bored out of their minds.  It doesn’t matter though as long as we continue studying the Word of God and growing into the person God created.  God loves us and meets us where we are.  At age 10 God met me there, at 40 God met me there and now at 64 He is still meeting me with explanations I can grasp along the way and keeping my interest and love in Him.  I look forward to each day speaking with my Lord and finding out His plans for my gifts.

     Ramble as a noun is that leisurely walk or a long rambling story.  I guess I got both.  That leisurely walk with God and as with some I tell a long rambling story.   Thanks be to God.  Enjoy your faith walk.