Day Seven in the Wilderness

I woke at 2:00 AM this morning thinking of day seven, THIS day. Day seven of my wilderness journey. What would God show me today? Often, in the wee hours, in the darkness, in the stillness, in the quiet, God will bring to mind that which He intends to work in me. I'd say in AND through me but I have yet to see what the "through" might look like. So with my first hot cup of tea I began to dive into the significance of the number seven.

• COMPLETION AND PERFECTION - Six days God labored to create the heavens and the earth and when he was finished, his work completed. He rested on the seventh day and proclaimed all that he has done VERY good.

Did you know that Jesus made seven statements as he hung in agony on the cross?

1. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" Luke 23:24
2. "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise" Luke 23?43
3. "Woman, behold, your son!!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" John 19:26-27
4. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46
5. "I thirst" John 19:28
6. "It is finished" John 19:30
7. "Father, into you hands I commit my spirit!" Luke 23:46

Did you know that the Lord's Prayer has seven parts in the way we should pray?

1. Hallowed be thy name
2. Thy kingdom come
3. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
4. Give us this day our daily bread
5. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us
6. Let us not into temptation
7. Deliver us from evil

Did you know that Jesus described Himself using seven metaphors?

I AM:

1. The bread of life
2. The light of the world
3. The gate to salvation
4. The good shepherd
5. The resurrection and the life
6. The way, the truth and the life
7. The vine

• EXONERATION AND HEALING - 

1. The Israelites  were to cancel all debts and free their slaves every seventh year Deuteronomy 15:1-2
2. Jesus answered Peter "seventy times seven" when asked how many times to forgive Matthew 18:21

Did you know that Jesus preformed seven healing miracles?

1. The man with the deformed hand Matthew 12:9-13
2. Man possessed by an unclean spirit Mark 1:23-26
3. Peter's mother in law's fever Mark 1:29-31
4. The woman crippled by a spirit Luke 13:10-13
5. The man with abnormal swelling of the body Luke 14:1-4
6. The lame man by the poo of Bethesda John 5:5-9
7. The man born blind John 9:1-7

• FULFILLMENT OF PROMISES AND OATHS

• Jesus promises never to destroy the Earth again by flood. This covenant is promised by the rainbow which is compromised of SEVEN colors. 
• You need only read the Book of Revelation to see that the number seven is amazingly present:
• Seven seals
• Seven trumpets sounded by seven angels
• Seven bowls carried by seven angels

**Disclaimer: Not every mention of the number seven has divine implication attached to it.

 

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WOW! Blown away by the purposeful detail of our Creator God! He IS an intentional God.

• Intentional - done on purpose, deliberate, getting clear up front about what you want to achieve and then doing it.... 

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

READ IT!!

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

LIVE IT!!

God, I'm actually not sure why you woke me at 2 AM and gave me the number seven to study this morning. But O, how you have blessed me by what you've shown me. So much more than I could ask or imagine. What I so love most today is that you are an intentional God. Again reminded that you waste NOTHING. Not even a 2 AM wake up call. Thank you God that today, unlike others, I recognized that you were working in the darkness. Help me to be intentional today with those who cross my path. Thank you for your example....that as you mold me into your likeness you never ask me to do something that you haven't experienced. Thank you that you are there when that molding is uncomfortable or painful or when I don't understand it or want it. Help me to always see you in the midst. Help me to remember that you promise never to forsake me. I am grateful that you love me, even the parts of me that are ragged and raw. To you be the glory today. May I be your hands and feet. Amen