The Filling Station | What’s in a number?

What’s in a number?

Posted by Simon Baddeley
in General News
on February 22, 2025

The Bible is full of numbers! All the way through, numbers are significant and have symbolic significance.

The enemy can only counterfeit the genuine

Many believers doubt the significance of numbers due to the association with numerology practiced by new-agers and occultists. And rightly so; we should operate caution!

However the enemy can only counterfeit the genuine.

So, how can we as believers be biblical in our understanding of numbers in Scripture and by your Spirit, and not stray into the occultic and esoteric world of the enemy?

We start with the Bible

Throughout Scripture, we see that it is saturated with numerical significance.

Take for instance the number 7:

7 days of creation
Sabbath on the 7th day
7 seals, trumpets, bowls
7 churches
7 spirits of God
7 feasts… to name a few!

7 is often regarded as meaning completion or perfection: God created the world in 6 days and on the 7th day He rested, meaning the Sabbath was on the 7th day.

The number 8 is regarded as meaning a new beginning. It is the beginning of a new week, and there were also 8 people who came out of the ark (a new beginning after the flood).

King David was the 8th son and King Josiah was 8 years old when he became king and in his 8th year he started to seek the Lord – both David and Josiah changed the nation of Israel.

Does God speak through numbers?

But what about numbers today? Does God speak through numbers?

Yes he does, but not every number has significance.

The first thing to do is to go to the Scripture, and ask, “Where does that number appear in the Word?” Ask the Lord, “Are you speaking to me through that number?”

“I found the Lord speaking through sequences”

I have often found the Lord speaking to me through sequences of numbers.

I started waking up at 3:33 every morning. Then I found myself looking at my watch and it would be 3.33! Or, I would see this sequence on a door or on a car.

After seeing this on numerous occasions, I began to ask the Lord, “What are you saying through this?”

He then reminded me of a Scripture, Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” This is a reminder from the Lord to seek after Him, knowing that He wants to release revelation of the things that are on His heart.

In another season I started seeing the number 911. Initially I didn’t take much notice, but then I started to see the numbers on a daily basis. As I inquired of the Lord as to what He wanted to tell me, I felt Him saying, “Just as 911 was a time marked moment, so there is something that is coming that will mark the history of man.” This was in 2019, and then in 2020 Covid came and lockdowns were enforced around the world. A time marked moment.

The key to the house of David

In another season, I started seeing the number 2222, it was everywhere, I would see it on doors, on cars and trucks and I would daily end up looking at the time at 22:22. Again I initially didn’t pay much attention but after numerous times of seeing it I again inquired of the Lord as to its meaning. He brought me to Isaiah 22:22, “And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.”

A promise from the Lord and a reminder that He is the one who opens doors, and when He opens them no one can shut them! A particular encouragement in that season of life for me.

Are you paying attention?

So, I encourage you to pay attention to what you see. The Lord reminded Ezekiel to pay attention to what the Lord was showing him (Ezekiel 44:5), and this is wisdom that we should heed.