The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold, Genesis 2:11.
A man with whom I was ordained once spent a few years in Montana preaching the gospel. In the 1980s jobs were scarce where he lived and so he would spend time up in the hills panning gold. He said that he never made less than minimum wage but never struck it rich. It was understood that gold was washing down the streams from somewhere, and for over 100 years people had been trying to find it.
I'm going to liken bible numerology to the search for gold. There are places on earth where large deposits of gold have sat close to the surface. Both California and Alaska went through gold rushes when such spots were found. There are other places like South Africa where miners know that by digging down miles beneath the surface they can extract gold. There are other places on this earth that you could dig for years and never find gold.
So is it with bible numerology. Some places in the bible are rich with it. Others are less obvious. As we saw in the last post and as we looked at the structure of Isaiah and Ezekiel we saw that those books have been laid out by God to foreshadow the completed canon of scripture. We'll take a closer look at the layout of Isaiah as it relates to the New Testament. We'll see one of those places where gold lies on the surface. Our bible was designed and laid out by God himself. That will become a little more clear as we look at Isaiah chapters 44 and 45.
There are 66 books in our bible and 66 chapters in Isaiah. Isaiah divides neatly in two styles and that division is obvious between chapters 39 and 40. This of course reflects the division between the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. To make sure that you don't miss that, Isaiah 40 reflects the 40th book of Scripture with its introduction of John the Baptist. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God, Isaiah 40:3.
What is less well know is the correlation between the Book of Romans and Isaiah 45. Isaiah 45 is the first chapter in the word of God addressed specifically to a Gentile. Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; Isaiah 45:1. Likewise, the Book of Romans is the first Book of the Bible addressed to Gentiles. Just as Cyrus ruled over the holy land, the Romans ruled over the holy land at the time of the writing of Romans. Isaiah reflects that correlation.
The single most astounding chapter that I have ever found for finding gold on the surface, and a chapter which is easy for the believer to pick up that vein of gold, is Isaiah 44. Just as Isaiah 44 has 28 verses, the Book of Acts, the 44th book of the bible has 28 chapters. The first 6 verses of Isaiah 44 speak of God pouring his spirit out upon the people and reintroducing himself to them. The correlation to the first 6 chapters of Acts is easy to see, God pours out his spirit and the Apostles seek to make God known to a hard hearted Israel. It is Isaiah 44:7 where the Lord lays the ground work for Stephen in Acts chapter 7. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them, Isaiah 44:7. Of course, Stephen does just that.
Isaiah 44:8-20 starts with God calling Israel his witnesses and then contending with the idols of the Gentiles. In Acts 8-20, the apostles are called out and preach throughout those chapters to the Gentiles and they contend against their idols. In Acts chapter 21, Paul is back in Jerusalem to witness to Israel. In Isaiah 44:21 the Lord turns back to Israel; Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
In Acts chapters 25 and 26 the Apostle Paul frustrates the liars against him and has his testimony confirmed by Agrippa to the extent that Agrippa declares that he would have freed Paul except for his appeal to Cesar. Isaiah 44:25 and 26 reflect and foreshadow that. That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof.
Isaiah 44:27 speaks to the deep waters. That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers. Throughout Acts 27 the Apostle Paul is caught on a boat casting about in the deep. In chapter 28 of Acts the good Apostle makes it to Rome. We have previously seen the correlation between Rome and Cyrus. Isaiah 44:28 ends by speaking of Cyrus. That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. Only King James Bible believers search for these things because they know that the same God who created and hid gold throughout the earth designed and wrote their bible, verse markings and all.