11–Trouble, trouble, trouble . . . .

Summer Fun with Biblical Numbers continues–in a prayerful format.

Step 1: Relax. Ask Jesus to visit with you. Tell Him any concerns on your mind.

Step 2: Read the prompt.

ELEVEN is more of an “interesting” number in the bible rather than a symbolic one. Some bible scholars say that eleven, coming after the “perfect judgement and decisions” associated with the number ten, means disorder, chaos, incompletion, or the breaking of laws. It is interesting, then, to note that there were only eleven apostles after Judas betrayed Jesus.

The Old Testament records how the people rebelled against God and built the Tower of Babel in Genesis chapter eleven. Later, in the book of second Kings, a critical point in salvation history occurs involving the number eleven. Jehoiakim, one of Judah’s worst (sinful) kings, ruled eleven years and his successor, Jehoiachin, only three months when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah and forced almost all the people (except the poorest and neediest) into exile in Babylon. The weak king Nebuchadnezzar named for Judah ruled eleven years before Nebuchadnezzar came back and destroyed Jerusalem, including the Temple.

The eleventh Traditional Station of the Cross is “Jesus is nailed to the cross.”

In the secular culture, the “eleventh hour” is a phrase that means “at the last possible minute.” In one of Jesus’ parables, it’s the eleventh hour when some workers come to the vineyard and get paid what the other workers, who worked all day, were paid causing chaos among the workers (and the people in the pew who now hear the parable.)*

And although it’s not related to the bible, 911 as an emergency call number and 9/11 as the date of a horrific attack on New York City certainly lives up to its “chaos” association.

* Far be from me to critique Jesus’ parable, but it is a tad confusing. I mean, I can understand why the all-day workers in the parable, and listeners today, grumble when they hear it. The pay discrepancy does seem unfair. But the point Jesus was making is this: the vineyard owner symbolizes God and the payment symbolizes heaven. In other words, God is willing to let people into heaven “at the eleventh hour” (up until the minute they die) if they sincerely confess their sins. And we should be happy for it. It may seem tempting to live sinfully and think you’ll confess before you die, but you never know if your death will quick and unexpected, such as in a car accident on the way home from having your hair cut. And even if you did know the moment of our death, think about how tough it is for you to change a habit. You might have convinced yourself that conversion isn’t necessary. It is not an easy thing to live one way and then suddenly change, especially to change your heart.

Step 3: Talk to Jesus as you would a good friend. Tell Him how you feel about what you read. What word, question, image, or feeling stands out to you? Did the prompt have anything to do with the concerns you had when you started your prayer?

Step 4: Contemplate. Set a timer so you don’t have to watch the clock. Relax in silence in His presence. Let Him speak to you.

When they pass through their sea of trouble, I, the Lord, will strike the waves, and the depths of the Nile will go dry… I will make my people strong. (Zech 10:11-12)

Step 5: Pray: How do you feel about what God said to you? Sometimes you get a clear idea, feeling, memory or word in your mind as an answer. Sometimes, the answer doesn’t come until hours after your prayer as ended, when God can catch you in an unguarded moment. Either way, wrap up your feelings and thoughts into a prayer.

Step 6: Take something to keep in your heart until your next prayer session. Writing down a word, phrase, memory–no matter how short–will help you see God’s presence in your life over time.

Thanks for continuing to learn about the biblical significance of numbers and to pray these short meditations with us. God bless you in a special way. VR