Peace and Reconciliation

In the Bible, many times numbers have symbolic meanings. For example, it is said that the number seven represents completion, or perfection. God created the world in seven days. There are seven colors of the rainbow and seven musical notes. Naaman the leper became clean after dipping in the river Jordan seven times.

Three represents peace and reconciliation. Three times in the year Jewish males appeared before the LORD at the temple in Jerusalem making peace with sacrifices to God. Jonah was reconciled back to God when he was in the belly of the whale for three days. Joseph interpreted the dream of the butler: the vine of three branches was three days, and the butler was restored to his position as butler.

The question may be asked, why did Moses strike the rock in the wilderness three times?

The first time Moses struck the rock, he struck it one time and at God’s commandment. This was in Rephidim which Moses called Massah, and Meribah (which means “striving” or “arguing.”) This was at the beginning of the forty years in the wilderness.

The second time Moses struck the rock, he struck it two times, in disobedience to God’s command to speak to the rock. This was at the very end of the forty years in the wilderness. This brings the total times the rock was struck to three times. This place was called the waters of Meribah, because the children of Israel again strove with the LORD.

Why would the rock be struck three times?

The Bible says that the rock was Christ. The number three represents peace and reconciliation. By Christ being smitten, the smitten rock, by His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus brought peace and reconciliation between Himself and the world.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." - Colossians 1:20 KJV

"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:" - Colossians 1:21-22 KJV

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV