One of my customers was terrified of Friday the 13th and practically begged me to change the due date of his invoice to any other date. But what does the Bible say about this number?
The book of Esther recalls how the wicked Haman ordered the death of all the Jews in the vast Persian empire to take place, specifically on the 13th of the 12th month. This message was broadcast to the entire empire 11 months earlier – exactly on the 13th day of the month. The 13th of the month looked like the end for Israel… But for those who know the story of Esther, it instead became a miraculous day of breakthrough!
In the Bible, the number 13 is a number of maturity and victory. Maturity as it relates to the coming-of-age ceremony of a bar/bat mitzvah when a child becomes recognised as a responsible adult. In this vein there was also 13 years from Joseph’s dream until his ascension to the throne of Egypt and 13 years from Paul’s encounter with the Messiah until he entered ministry.
13 is also the number of victory. The Israelites marched 6 + 7 = 13 times around the walls of Jericho before they came tumbling down. Yes if you were an enemy of Israel within the walls of Jericho, the number 13 would be unlucky for you, but for God’s people it represents maturity, breakthrough and victory.
So as long as you make sure you are on God’s side, you need not fear the number 13, but can rather believe that this will be a day of the turn around!
Enoch Lavender was born in Australia, raised in Norway, spent time living in China and is now based on the Gold Coast of Australia. He has been studying Hebrew and the Jewish roots of our faith for the past decade, and has a keen interest in the Middle East from a Bible prophecy perspective.
Contact Enoch and Olive Tree Ministries
