You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? (Psalm 56:9 ESV)
Numbers and Faith
It is pretty fun watching young children learn to count. Sometimes they get the order mixed up, sometimes they skip things, sometimes they get bored and just start singing. As they learn to count, they do not yet believe that numbers are serious, sometimes troubling things that contribute to worry.
When checkbooks do not balance, we worry.
When there are not quite enough votes, we worry.
When we measure the doorframe incorrectly, we worry.
When we are not sure how many miles are still ahead of us, we worry.
But children learning how to count have it right. Numbers are useful, and interesting, and sometimes fun… but numbers are never a reason to worry.
Because God has already counted everything. He has the numbers worked out. He knows how everything will add up. The Devil is not in the details, because God is sovereign there, too.
His numbers have never been wrong. He took the perfect number of days to create the universe. He chose and created the perfect number of Israelite tribes. He anointed David with a perfect calendar. He nudged His people into exile, and then drew them out after the perfect number of days. He brought the long-expected Jesus on the perfect holiday.