The meaning of the number seventeen in the Bible is so distinct and vibrant that if we can not see our resurrected victory in Jesus Christ then some kind of misunderstanding is taking place somewhere.
I
like the fact that the Holy Spirit actually shows us models in
Scripture of 7+10 =17. One example would be that Enoch was the seventh
from Adam and Noah was the tenth from Adam. Both Enoch and Noah were
saved from the flood. Enoch was raptured right before the flood. Enoch
lived 365 years which is a gentile number. Enoch represents the Church
being raptured before the flood or the future 7 year tribulation period.
Noah represents Israel being taken through the rocky waters of the
future 7 year tribulation period. Both the Church; true Born Again
Believers in Jesus Christ (7,Enoch) and National Israel (10;Noah) will
be victorious (17) according to the Bible.
The
world has one definition of victory but God has the exact opposite
reasoning as to what a winner means and represents. The world bases
victory on
competence, success and money. God measures victory in a different way.
competence, success and money. God measures victory in a different way.
If
an individual allows God through His Son Jesus Christ to take them
through a trial then he or she becomes victorious through the
resurrected power of His Son. The world basis victory on what we can do
in our flesh. God bases victory on what we allow Jesus Christ to do
thorough our lives.
Two different definitions on the road to two different destinations.
Jesus
looked at the Widow. He saw that she gave 1 penny and praised her
because she had the proper motive but the people around this lady
thought she was a nobody. Lazarus was a beggar yet he sat with Abraham
in the afterlife according to Luke chapter 16.
This
is one reason why if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your
personal Savior and Lord it would be wise to do so because you will
never have true victory apart from the Son of God.
Not
only does the world and God have different definitions of victory but
Eternity has two different places. One is a place of victory where the
love of Jesus Christ works through us forever. This place is heaven. The
other place defines defeat. If a person dies without accepting Jesus
Christ as his or her personal Savior that individual dies with a fixed
character away from God. This is called an unregenerate state. Their
spirit is dead so as a result they go to a place of death. Nothing is
alive in Hell. It is the ultimate place of defeat.
There
are more examples of 7+10 =17 in the Bible. In Romans 8 there are 17
truths that can never separate us from the love of Jesus Christ. This
passage is broken down in the form of 7 and 10.
In
Hebrews 12:18-24 the Old dispensation and the New are compared. First
the Bible says, "For ye are not come"...and then lists 7 truths of the
Old Covenant. In verse 22,"But ye are come" and then lists 10 truths of
the New Covenant.7+10 = 17.This is how exact God is in His Word.
Noah's
Ark stopped twice. Once in Genesis 7:11 when ..."The fountains of the
great deep broke up"...on the seventeenth day. The Ark finally rested on
Mount Ararat on another 17th day.
The
Holy Spirit gave a model in the Old Testament of the cross and the
resurrection. Remember Jesus Christ died on the 14th day of the month
but He rose from the dead on the 17th day of the month. The meaning of
the number 14 in the Bible is salvation (Jesus Christ died on the cross)
and three days later on the 17th of Nisan, He rose from the dead and
was victorious over sin.
When
Moses took the Israelites across the Red Sea they started on the 14th
day but did not cross until the 17th day. God needed to show a
foreshadowing of the cross (Passover) and the resurrection
(Firstfruits). This is why the number 17 in the Bible is our resurrected
victory in Jesus Christ.
Anytime
somebody or a group of people tells you that victory is apart from the
resurrection of Jesus Christ they are giving you a false gospel message.
Run in the other direction. The only way we will be victorious (17) is
through the resurrected Son of God who now sits at the right hand of God
The Father in heaven. "If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.'
Colossians 3:1.
If
you are like me, confused between victories and defeats let Jesus open
up your spirit in your loss. He will speak and work through you. I guess
what I am saying is we should be very open in how our Savior and Lord
is communicating to us as opposed to what we have to endure in our
defeats. The reason for this is because the peace and love of God
transcend our circumstances.