The Book Of Numbers | A Journey Toward Human Freedom Under God's AuthoritySample

"Seven Lampstands"

A dynamic community is forming. A community once filled with a band of slaves and disarrayed in governance, identity, meaning, authority and purpose now gathered, assembled and aimed toward a destination of legacy and significance. 

The lampstand in the tent of meeting comes prominently into view in this chapter. The lampstands provide yet another artistic clue and type within the story as they point to something far greater than their mere beauty. The lampstand itself looked like a flowering tree with seven extending branches that broke off and traveled into three arms on each side of the long and central trunk. In the inner courts there were 7 of these lampstands. To the Israelite mind, they were well acquainted with both letters and numbers, as their numeric system and alphabet were one in the same, and would have had at least an idea of their significance. 

From the onset of Genesis, God and His work in and through his people has been deeply associated with the number 7. Beginning in Genesis 1, God is seen as Creator and LORD (LORD being a division of 7). The word of the Lord in perfection is again linked to His creation of the law and 10 commandments in Exodus (the giving of the law taking place in the 70th chapter of Scripture). God’s law is perfect and the Scriptures tell us exactly 14x’s (7x2) that He “has written them on our hearts.” 

When Jesus (the Word) was in fact hung on a cross to die, above him was written this statement; “This is Jesus the King of the Jews, The King of the Jews, This is the King of the Jews, Jesus of Nazareth is the King of the Jews.” This inscription contains a total of 28 words (7x4) and remains the same across all 4 gospels. It states unequivocally that Jesus is the light represented in the 7 lampstands. When Pilate was asked to change the words that were written, Pilate responded with a 7-word proclamation: "What I have written I have written." 

Our hope is in Christ who died for us through faith (used 49x5 times), and this comes by way of hearing the message (49=7x7). In the wake of such confession comes forgiveness (42=7x6)—provided by Christ’s death and wounds on the cross (35x’s=7x5). By this forgiveness and payment we are now reconciled and made right with God (used 7x’s).