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"Ask the Pastor"

We frequently receive questions in email from people about doctrine, practice, etc. From time to time we will post the questions and the answers here on the web page. If you'd like to submit a question, simply email our pastor at Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org or use the form below.


Question:

From:     Marcus
To:     Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Subject:     Numbers
Date sent:     Tue, 26 Oct 1999 11:58:51 -0400 (EDT)

Got a question for you on a study you teached awhile back
on the relationships between numbers and biblical references.
Like 7 is the number of completion. I am particualy interested
in the number 40. Others will be helpful and useful. The sermon
I am working on is Moses and how 40 is the common dominator
of things that happen in his life. I think 40 references as
maturity, but just can't remember or find my notes. Any help
will be helpful. Thanks and God Bless.

God Bless,
Marcus

Response:

From:     Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
To:     Marcus
Subject:     Numbers
Date sent:     Tue, 26 Oct 1999 14:57:56 -0500

Marcus,

Thanks for writing. You said:

> Got a question for you on a study you taught awhile back on the
> relationships between numbers and biblical references. Like 7 is
> the number of completion. I am particualy interested in the number
> 40. Others will be helpful and useful. The sermon I am working on
> is Moses and how 40 is the common dominator of things that happen
> in his life. I think 40 references as maturity, but just can't
> remember or find my notes. Any help will be helpful. Thanks and God
> Bless.


I'm not sure which study you are referencing. However, numbers
often carry particular meanings in the Scriptures. As you stated,
seven is the number of completion. Eight is the number of new
beginnings. It is considered the number of the new covenant. I'm
not sure how the number 40 it fits. The Jewish sages did connect
this number with maturity. They taught that until a man is 40, he
cannot completely understand his master's teachings. (From the
Talmud.) Perhaps this is where we get the saying, 'life begins at
forty.' Most older men will tell you that something happened to
them around that age. (I can testify to that. I'm 59 now.)

You may want to use your concordance, or Bible program, and see
if the number forty has a pattern of usage. (You'll have to do the
home work on this one.)

Also want to mention that in hermeutics there is a rule called 'the
law of first mention.' This rule means that the first time you find a word
used in the Scriptures, that usage will normally carry the essential
usage of the word throughout the Bible. A good example is the word
'Spirit.' (Cf. Gen1:2) May not work too well with numbers.

A little extra insight on the number forty. In the Hebrew alphabet,
each letter is also a number. The 13th letter in Hebrew is 'Mem.' It is
the number 40. Mem is also the letter associated with death. In early
times when a person was sentenced to death, the king would write the
letter 'mem' against the name of that person. There is a positive side.
The positive side is that 40 would also signify dying to one thing in
order to live to something else. You can apply this to the transitions in
the life of Moses.

Hope this helps.

The Lord bless you.
Your servant in Christ,
Buddy Martin


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(Note: Please include your full name and email address. Answers will be sent by return email. Christian Challenge reserves the right to reprint your question and edit it for clarity and content on our "Ask the Pastor" web page. Please note that we will not divulge your full name nor your email address. Typically we'll use your first name only. Not all questions are posted on this page - many more are responded to privately. Please let us know if you do NOT want your question listed or if you'd prefer it to be listed anonymously. We respect your privacy and will NOT sell/give/loan your name and email address to any other organization/business/entity.)


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Copyright © 1999-2005 Christian Challenge International. All rights reserved.
Christian Challenge International
300 Pearce Road
Pineville, LA 71360
318-640-4300

What would you like to "Ask the Pastor?"

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(Note: Please include your full name and email address. Answers will be sent by return email. Christian Challenge reserves the right to reprint your question and edit it for clarity and content on our "Ask the Pastor" web page. Please note that we will not divulge your full name nor your email address. Typically we'll use your first name only. Not all questions are posted on this page - many more are responded to privately. Please let us know if you do NOT want your question listed or if you'd prefer it to be listed anonymously. We respect your privacy and will NOT sell/give/loan your name and email address to any other organization/business/entity.)


Back to the Christian Challenge International home page!


Copyright © 1999-2005 Christian Challenge International. All rights reserved.
Christian Challenge International
300 Pearce Road
Pineville, LA 71360
318-640-4300

What would you like to "Ask the Pastor?"

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PLEASE include your email address or we won't be able to send the answer to you.

Your question
 
(Note: Please include your full name and email address. Answers will be sent by return email. Christian Challenge reserves the right to reprint your question and edit it for clarity and content on our "Ask the Pastor" web page. Please note that we will not divulge your full name nor your email address. Typically we'll use your first name only. Not all questions are posted on this page - many more are responded to privately. Please let us know if you do NOT want your question listed or if you'd prefer it to be listed anonymously. We respect your privacy and will NOT sell/give/loan your name and email address to any other organization/business/entity.)


Back to the Christian Challenge International home page!


Copyright © 1999-2005 Christian Challenge International. All rights reserved.
Christian Challenge International
300 Pearce Road
Pineville, LA 71360
318-640-4300

What would you like to "Ask the Pastor?"

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PLEASE include your email address or we won't be able to send the answer to you.

Your question
 
(Note: Please include your full name and email address. Answers will be sent by return email. Christian Challenge reserves the right to reprint your question and edit it for clarity and content on our "Ask the Pastor" web page. Please note that we will not divulge your full name nor your email address. Typically we'll use your first name only. Not all questions are posted on this page - many more are responded to privately. Please let us know if you do NOT want your question listed or if you'd prefer it to be listed anonymously. We respect your privacy and will NOT sell/give/loan your name and email address to any other organization/business/entity.)


Back to the Christian Challenge International home page!


Copyright © 1999-2005 Christian Challenge International. All rights reserved.
Christian Challenge International
300 Pearce Road
Pineville, LA 71360
318-640-4300

What would you like to "Ask the Pastor?"

Your full name: 
Your email address: (ex: you@aol.com
PLEASE include your email address or we won't be able to send the answer to you.

Your question
 
(Note: Please include your full name and email address. Answers will be sent by return email. Christian Challenge reserves the right to reprint your question and edit it for clarity and content on our "Ask the Pastor" web page. Please note that we will not divulge your full name nor your email address. Typically we'll use your first name only. Not all questions are posted on this page - many more are responded to privately. Please let us know if you do NOT want your question listed or if you'd prefer it to be listed anonymously. We respect your privacy and will NOT sell/give/loan your name and email address to any other organization/business/entity.)


Back to the Christian Challenge International home page!


Copyright © 1999-2003 Christian Challenge International. All rights reserved.
Christian Challenge International
300 Pearce Road
Pineville, LA 71360
318-640-4300

What would you like to "Ask the Pastor?"

Your full name: 
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PLEASE include your email address or we won't be able to send the answer to you.

Your question
 
(Note: Please include your full name and email address. Answers will be sent by return email. Christian Challenge reserves the right to reprint your question and edit it for clarity and content on our "Ask the Pastor" web page. Please note that we will not divulge your full name nor your email address. Typically we'll use your first name only. Not all questions are posted on this page - many more are responded to privately. Please let us know if you do NOT want your question listed or if you'd prefer it to be listed anonymously. We respect your privacy and will NOT sell/give/loan your name and email address to any other organization/business/entity.)

">

Back to the Christian Challenge International home page!


Copyright © 1999-2003 Christian Challenge International. All rights reserved.
Christian Challenge International
300 Pearce Road
Pineville, LA 71360
318-640-4300

What would you like to "Ask the Pastor?"

Your full name: 
Your email address: (ex: you@aol.com
PLEASE include your email address or we won't be able to send the answer to you.

Your question
 
(Note: Please include your full name and email address. Answers will be sent by return email. Christian Challenge reserves the right to reprint your question and edit it for clarity and content on our "Ask the Pastor" web page. Please note that we will not divulge your full name nor your email address. Typically we'll use your first name only. Not all questions are posted on this page - many more are responded to privately. Please let us know if you do NOT want your question listed or if you'd prefer it to be listed anonymously. We respect your privacy and will NOT sell/give/loan your name and email address to any other organization/business/entity.)


Back to the Christian Challenge International home page!


Copyright © 1999-2003 Christian Challenge International. All rights reserved.
Christian Challenge International
300 Pearce Road
Pineville, LA 71360
318-640-4300

What would you like to "Ask the Pastor?"

Your full name: 
Your email address: (e.g.: you@aol.com
PLEASE include your email address or we won't be able to send the answer to you.

Your question
 
(Note: Please include your full name and email address. Answers will be sent by return email. Christian Challenge reserves the right to reprint your question and edit it for clarity and content on our "Ask the Pastor" web page. Please note that we will not divulge your full name nor your email address. Typically we'll use your first name only. Not all questions are posted on this page - many more are responded to privately. Please let us know if you do NOT want your question listed or if you'd prefer it to be listed anonymously. We respect your privacy and will NOT sell/give/loan your name and email address to any other organization/business/entity.)


Back to the Christian Challenge International home page!


Copyright © 1999-2003 Christian Challenge International. All rights reserved.
Christian Challenge International
300 Pearce Road
Pineville, LA 71360
318-640-4300

What would you like to "Ask the Pastor?"

Your full name: 
Your email address: (e.g.: you@aol.com
PLEASE include your email address or we won't be able to send the answer to you.

Your question
 
(Note: Please include your full name and email address. Answers will be sent by return email. Christian Challenge reserves the right to reprint your question and edit it for clarity and content on our "Ask the Pastor" web page. Please note that we will not divulge your full name nor your email address. Typically we'll use your first name only. Not all questions are posted on this page - many more are responded to privately. Please let us know if you do NOT want your question listed or if you'd prefer it to be listed anonymously. We respect your privacy and will NOT sell/give/loan your name and email address to any other organization/business/entity.)


Back to the Christian Challenge International home page!


Copyright © 1999-2003 Christian Challenge International. All rights reserved.
Christian Challenge International
300 Pearce Road
Pineville, LA 71360
318-640-4300

What would you like to "Ask the Pastor?"

Your full name: 
Your email address: (e.g.: you@aol.com
PLEASE include your email address or we won't be able to send the answer to you.

Your question
 
(Note: Please include your full name and email address. Answers will be sent by return email. Christian Challenge reserves the right to reprint your question and edit it for clarity and content on our "Ask the Pastor" web page. Please note that we will not divulge your full name nor your email address. Typically we'll use your first name only. Not all questions are posted on this page - many more are responded to privately. Please let us know if you do NOT want your question listed or if you'd prefer it to be listed anonymously. We respect your privacy and will NOT sell/give/loan your name and email address to any other organization/business/entity.)


Back to the Christian Challenge International home page!


Copyright © 1999-2003 Christian Challenge International. All rights reserved.
Christian Challenge International
300 Pearce Road
Pineville, LA 71360
318-640-4300