Notice the repeated notices…

[Chapter 24 of “How God Guides.” He’s nice enough to repeat himself to those of us hard of hearing (or of doing).]

Peter had a series of things happen to him in three’s.  He denied the Lord three times, Jesus asked him three times if he loved him, the sheet-like object containing un-kosher animals came to him in a vision three times, and it was three men sent by Cornelius who came to the door. When Pharaoh dreamt about the seven years of plenty and seven years of famine, he had the same dream twice, only with different characters (Genesis 41).  When Joseph interpreted the dreams he said, “The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon” (Genesis 41:32).  Jesus’ life is recorded in fourGospels. The last of Moses’ books is called, Deuteronomy, which means “Second Law.”  The key word of the book is “remember,” because it’s basically the repetition of what was already recorded in Exodus and Leviticus. God knows our tendency to forgetwhat he says – so he says it again!

When he’s speaking to us, sometimes he repeats himself until we get the message. Don’t you think that’s nice of him? When you keep hearing, or reading, or seeing, or dreaming the same thought or theme over and over; take notice – maybe God is trying to tell you something!

When he’s speaking to us,

sometimes he repeats himself

until we get the message.

Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well.   1 Timothy 1:18

Young Timothy was a bit timid, and needed assurance that he was actually called by God to be a spiritual leader. Not only did the Lord confirm it with one prophetic word, but more than one – and maybe even many (“in keeping with the prophecies”)! I can relate to this, since my own calling to live a life of service has, over the years, been quite dramatic and relentlessly recurring. By confirming my orders over and over God has made it hard for me to desert my post!