We can find all sorts of numbers in the Bible. Some are symbolic and some are literal, while some are both symbolic and literal. The “seven spirits of God” mentioned in Revelation (1:4; 3:1; 5:6), for instance, are symbolic, referring to the Holy Spirit in His perfection. The 153 fish caught by the disciples is an actual figure (John 21:11). The 40 days for which Jesus fasted before commencing His ministry (Matthew 4:2)—also the same period given to Nineveh to respond to God’s message—is an actual number as well, but also a symbolic representation of how God’s people are tested.
Whenever we come across such numbers in the Bible, we often try to figure out what they represent and to discern whether there is significance behind the numbers, or whether they are merely factual figures. Often, however, we miss out what the numbers say about the character of God—especially when He is depicted as counting.
When God told Jonah that He was concerned about the people of Nineveh (Jonah 4:11), for instance, He gave the prophet a number: 120,000. This not only tells us the city’s population, but it also says something astounding about the character of God.
In biblical times, shepherds had an interesting way of counting their sheep. The sheep were made to pass under a shepherd’s rod as he counted them; every tenth animal was then set aside as a tithe to the Lord (Leviticus 27:32). Although the shepherd just had to get a total tally of all his livestock, he made sure to count every one of them individually.
In a similar way, God our Shepherd sees each of us as an individual. Just as a shepherd counts each sheep that passes under his rod, God counts every one of us. In Ezekiel 20:37, He says, “I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant”. This personal attention is made clear in Jeremiah 33:13, which prophesies that “flocks will again pass under the hand of the one who counts them”. It paints the picture of a Shepherd personally counting His sheep—not with a rod but with His own hand. He handles each sheep with a personal touch.
Thus, when God told Jonah about the 120,000 Ninevites He was concerned about, it was not just a statistic. Rather, it showed that He had counted and knew every person in the city who repented—no one was lost, ignored, or forgotten. Each inhabitant was known by God and precious to Him, even though he or she had lived contrary to His law. To God, the salvation of each Ninevite was a deeply personal matter, as was each sailor on the ship that nearly sank with Jonah in it (see Jonah 1).
We sometimes forget the ways of God: we brandish numbers about when we count participants at a conference or church service as a means to boost our egos and congratulate ourselves. In God’s eyes, however, numbers that have to do with people are far more personal and profound. Whether it’s a large crowd in a popular church or a small gathering of 40 worshippers, He is interested in individuals.
And while we allow anonymity in our midst, letting people slip in and out of fellowship and losing them in the crowd, God wants to personally touch everyone who passes Him. Salvation is, after all, an individual experience. As the prophet Isaiah said, “In that day . . . you . . . will be gathered up one by one” (Isaiah 27:12).
It is one thing to believe that Jesus died for all of us, and another thing to appreciate that He died for you. Yet this realisation is needed for true conversion.
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Jonah’s experience may make an entertaining tale, but it is also a sobering story. We too have a story to complete. Will we open our hearts to God and be a willing mission field? Will we learn not only to do His work for Him, but also to do it joyfully with Him? Will we share His wonderful character and compassion, and become more like Christ? Will we bear fruit for God?
Excerpted and adapted from God in Pursuit: Lessons from the Book of Jonah © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon, published by Discovery House
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God in Pursuit: Lessons from the Book of Jonah
The story of Jonah is a powerful reflection of God’s heart and mission—a God of boundless mercy who relentlessly pursues His people. It reveals a forgiving God, always ready to offer second chances, and a compassionate God who calls us to love and serve others. Discover these profound truths in God in Pursuit: Lessons from the Book of Jonah by Robert M. Solomon.
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