Seven

Today, June 7, is Laynee's nine month angelversary.  Nine months since my eyes have seen her beautiful, radiant smile.  I suspect that, for a very long time, the seventh day of every month will be significant in that it will be a painful reminder of that dreadful day.  It will forever mark another month without Jalayne. 

The number seven is also of great significance in that it is God's number for completion.   To one who reads and studies the scripture it is impossible to miss the special symbolic use of the number seven.    In Hebrew, the word seven (She' bah) is derived from the root word meaning perfect, complete, full or satisfied. The Word, which is God breathed,  begins placing special significance upon the number 7 in Genesis 2:2 "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work." and continues to use this number until one final, climatic event in Revelation 16:17  The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air and out ofthe temple came a loud voice form the throne saying, "It is done." Without fail God uses the number seven to symbolize completeness and perfection, His ultimate satisfaction.

As we dig deep into God's word we find he uses the number seven repeatedly to show that he is God and that he is in control.  In Luke 8:2 Jesus casts  demons out of Mary Magdalene, the fact that there were 7 indicates that satan had total possession over this woman.  Still, satan was no match for our Lord.  In Exodus 21:2 we learn that Hebrew slaves were only to be kept for 6 years, on the seventh year they were freed.  In Joshua 6 we learn of God's complete destruction of Jericho as Joshua sends, among the Israelites, 7 priests, carrying 7 trumpets.  On the 7th day they march 7 times around Jericho and the walls of that city collapsed.  Jericho was finished.  In  II Kings 5, Namaan is cured of leprosy by dipping 7 times in the river Jordan.  Matthew 18:22 describes God's idea of perfect forgiveness, that we forgive 70 X 7 times.   God uses 7 in many various ways, for healing, as well as destruction.  Regardless of the context in which he uses the number, the result is always the same......complete, final, and perfect, exactly as he planned it. 

God used the number 7, not only to bring circumstances and situations to completion, but also in forming his perfect creation.  He created 7 great masses of land to complete the earth.   7 bodies of water were created and joined to form the one complete ocean. He created 7 colors with which to begin his perfect spectrum of color.   7 days were created to make a perfect week.   The music so often used in praise and worship comes from the 7 musical notes that he created.

The final book of God's word, Revelation, is saturatated with the number 7.  It begins with John's 7 letters to the 7 churches and tells of the 7 years of tribulation. There in Revelation we read of 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls, 7 stars, 7 angels, 7 horns, 7 eyes, 7 kings, and on and on.  In this final book, God is wrapping things up, he is preparing for his final judgement upon the earth, until finally with the 7th angel he declares "It is done." 

Though the 7th of each month brings heartache to me, I find that I am grateful that God chose the number 7 for her.  There is comfort in this reminder that on September 7, God's work in Laynee was complete.  She was perfect.  She had accomplished all that she was sent to do.  I can only imagine the elation she must have felt when she realized that "it is done."  I love her so much, I miss her so much but God , with something as simple as the number 7,  reminds me that his work is never incomplete.  He does not make mistakes.  He does not have accidents. He is on his throne and he is good.