07062022 – Luke 10. 1-11, 16-20
There is actually a field of study called “numerology, the study of numbers…”
The number “70” appears in the scriptures a lot! Maybe even more than a lot!
The number 70 is an “important number-historically as well as traditionally.” “70” like 7, is a number of completeness or wholeness.
There’s something “special” about the number 70 for our Hebrew brothers and sisters.
Curiously, we see “this number 70” showing up over and over again in Scripture and in the Midrash.
The Hebrew word midrash means “to resort to,” “to seek,” “to seek with care,” “to enquire,” and even “to require.”
The word “midrash” is also a method of study and means – discerning the value in texts, words, and letters, as potential revelatory spaces…
Each and every text is questioned and dissected, and looked at seriously.
The Jewish scholars of old stated the Torah listed 70 descendants of Noah after the Great Flood, and tells us, “These are the families of the sons of Noah . . . the nations were separated on the earth after the flood.”
From there the sages “believed” that humanity was comprised of 70 nations, each with its own unique language.
The Torah (or the first five books) tells us that the number of Jacob’s descendants that came down to Egypt were 70 in number. Of course, they were.
More than 200 years later, Moses is told by God to gather “70 elders” of the Jewish people to stand together with him, as leaders of the people.
Later, the Sanhedrin (the rabbinical high court) would also have “70 judges.”
The speed limit on 1-94 is 70 (I don’t know HOW THAT GOT IN THERE!)
There are seventy “faces” of the Torah – which means to imply that there are 70 “valid ways” or “perspectives” of understanding the Torah.
There would be “70 years” of the Babylonian exile, according to my old friend, Jeremiah the kid.
For people of the Hebrew faith there are “seventy holy days” – the Midrash has calculated that there are “70 Biblical holy days” in each and every solar calendar year.
There are “seventy divine names” in Scripture, God is referred to by many-many different names…mostly descriptive. In fact, according to the Midrash, God is known by no less than 70 different names.
But that’s not all, there are also “seventy names of the Jewish nation”…seventy names for Jerusalem… and seventy full years of a person’s life. (After that, apparently, it is all downhill) J/K
Biblically speaking “the number 70” is especially associated with “leadership” and always has been…and that is the point I would like for us to dwell on…
So, when it came time to put together the Holy Books of the Hebrew Bible, it was “70 scholars” that were gathered together to create the Hebraic Canon.
The Early Christian community followed suit and again “70 Church Fathers” came together to establish the Early Christian Writings…
“70” was a huge number when it came to leadership. So it is no small wonder that Jesus sends out “70 persons” – “70 men” ahead of himself…
Luke 10 is the only place where we find the account of Jesus sending “a specific 70 (or 72) disciples” to prepare the way before him.
And, I want you to know that there are discrepancies in the number (70 or 72) which come from differences found in approximately half of the ancient scrolls used in translation.
The texts are nearly evenly divided between the numbers, and scholars do not agree on whether the number should be 70 or 72. Flip a coin, I guess…
Since the number “70” is repeated in other places in the Scriptures, it is probably more likely that the actual number of disciples was “70,” with the 2 being a copyist’s error.
Jesus told them to GO! But be wary, be careful. The world is not always a nice place. LIVE BY FAITH. Stay focused. Be alert. Keep watch. Be diligent.
Forget the small talk. The small talk only gets you in trouble. You know it will…
Bless others…
Do not withhold your blessings ever…spread them freely…we need more blessings in this world…not less…
And try to be content. As best as you are able find contentment…within yourself.
Don’t let them pull you down. Don’t let the world distract you. Don’t let them “get to you.” Lord, knows “they will try.”
Be the bigger person.
Accept what you are given. Life throws a lot at each of us. Accept what you have to, dodge what you can…Be flexible. Be open. Don’t be closed minded. Send out healing words, healing thoughts, healing wishes…healing prayers…and wherever you go, proclaim the kingdom of God.
Two by two he sent them out. Go, he said, and they went, all “70” of them. Amen.