Biblical Economics

UV 606/10,000 Increase in Numbers : Biblical Economics “He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land- your grain, new wine and oil- the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you.” Deuteronomy 7 v 13 Universally and through history, all people in all nations have sought an increase in numbers or the growth indices in terms of resources, income and produce. They have focused on increase in wealth. People, by and large are number-driven. But, the Lord promises that instead if we focus on the Word of God, obey His commandments and pay attention to what He says then He will love us. We need to be Word-driven. As a mark or token of His love He will bless us. He will increase our numbers. He will bless our offspring, our crops or our investments, our income and even our animals. This part of the uni-verse if properly understood, believed and appropriated for our lives will lead to an increase in our provision and resources for our life and work. When we study diligently the Word of God, He will reveal His judgements or principles on which we should base our decisions, our efforts and our relationships. This is the spiritual seed that He sows in us. The spiritual seed over time will grow and multiply and produce a harvest of blessings in our lives. He will bless us in the very land He promised to our forefathers. When we first bought the land on which our home, The Tabernacle stands, there was a prophetic revelation that it was intended for us right from the time my maternal grandmother, a godly woman was praying with tears for the family. Again later the Lord affirmed: “ I have increased you in small measure and large measure.” The reference to new wine and oil has two Biblical allusions: one, in the story told by Jesus about the Good Samaritan where the Samaritan poured in the wine and the oil for the healing of the person left wounded by highway robbers. The implication is that the Lord will provide for our healing and anointing. He will send people and angels for our help in times of need. The new wine also refers to the new life we have through our faith in Jesus. It is the miraculous wine that Jesus creates by His mere word at the marriage at Cana by transforming water in six stone jars into wine that is far superior to the normal wine served in the first round. The six stone jars symbolize different aspects of our lives: spiritual,intellectual, physical, social, filial and financial. The Word of Christ will impact and transform all these areas or aspects of our lives. The calves of the herds and the lambs of the flocks refer to the people we lead to God, the ones whom we help to disciple and nurture in faith. This part of the uni-verse if believed and appropriated in faith will lead to an increase in our influence and leadership impact. Prateep V Philip