The Number Five in Scripture

We saw the number four to be significant of the earth, particularly the earth as it has fallen under the curse. In a number of instances four is significant of man's weakness. Five has an entirely different meaning. Five is significant of divine strength, or grace. Five is the redemption number, and stands especially connected with God's grace.

Grace is defined as meaning unmerited favor or mercy. Favor is mercy shown to the miserable. Favor is pity shown to the poor. Favor is compassion shown to the suffering. Favor is patience shown to the obstinate. Favor is grace shown to the unworthy. Grace is God assuming all of guilty man's responsibility.

THE PENTATEUCH, THE FIVEFOLD BOOK

Although the Pentateuch is called the Book of the Law it is distinctly a Book of God's grace.

In Genesis, the book of beginnings, all of God's covenants have their beginning.

Exodus is the book of redemption.

Leviticus is the book of atonement and worship.

Numbers is the book of deliverance in wanderings.

Deuteronomy is the book of the consummation of God's promises to Israel.

Deuteronomy, the fifth book, magnifies the grace of God in His dealings with Israel. Again and again, God emphasizes the fact that He called Israel for His own name's sake.

THE FIFTH LETTER OF THE HEBREW ALPHABET

It is significant that the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet has definite meaning when it is inserted into proper names. A notable instance of the change of names is that of Abram to Abraham, and Sarai to Sarah. In each instance the fifth Hebrew letter was inserted. The occasion for this insertion and the change of names was in God's gracious dealings and the fulfillment of the promise of the seed to Abram and Sarai. The seed was given to them even in old age, and along with the giving of the seed and the confirming of the promise, was the command to change their names (Gen. 17); and the change of their names by the insertion of the fifth letter indicates that God truly had dealt with them in grace.

THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT

We read that Israel came out of Egypt harnessed (Exod. 13:18), and the margin reads, "five in a rank." They went out in ranks of five, or five after five (five abreast). It is a mighty testimony to salvation and deliverance by divine grace. The point is this: they went out helpless and defenseless, but through the grace of God they were invincible. Mountains were back of them; the sea was ahead of them; Pharaoh's army was pushing them. There was nothing but God's grace to lean upon and that alone delivered them.

Five times God demanded Pharaoh to let Israel go. It is the expression of the spontaneous grace of God in the deliverance of Israel. Nothing necessitated it — either misery or merit.

THE TABERNACLE

Five is the all-pervading number in the tabernacle. There are five stamped all over it. The measurements of the outer court are multiples of five. The tabernacle had sixty pillars, or five times twelve. Twelve was the number of the tribes. Five times twelve shows God's grace in governmental display. These pillars were five cubits apart and five cubits high. The outer curtain was divided into squares of five by five cubits each. All the veils were a multiple of five. The anointing oil had five ingredients: myrrh, cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia, and olive oil (Exod. 30:23-25). The incense was composed of five ingredients: myrrh, cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia, and olive oil (Exod. 30:23-25). The incense was composed of five ingredients: aromatic gum, a shell with the odor of musk, fragrant gum, frankincense, and salt. Five priests ministered in the tabernacle — Aaron and his four sons (Exod. 28:1). Five offerings were made on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16). On the same day a fivefold atonement was made — namely, for the holy sanctuary, the tabernacle, the altar, the priests, and the people (Lev. 16:33). Thus, five is stamped all over God's dwelling-place, and it typifies Him Who came to dwell among men — the one Who was full of grace and truth (John 1:17).

THE FIVE OFFERINGS

Each one of the five offerings brought on the Day of Atonement signifies the fulness and the completeness of God's redeeming grace.

The burnt offering (Lev. 1) reveals Jesus as the satisfactory propitiation for our sins, perfectly satisfying God.

The meal offering (Lev. 2) sets forth the sinless humanity of Christ, the sin-bearer, as an offering of fragrance unto God.

The peace offering (Lev. 3) speaks of Christ, Who is our peace, making peace for the believer.

The sin offering (Lev. 4) reveals Christ answering for our sin (old nature).

The trespass offering (Lev. 5) sets forth Christ answering for our sins (the deeds of the old nature).

The five offerings taken together, set forth the work of Christ on the cross as a complete work. There is nothing lacking in it. God has in His grace thought of man's every need, and in grace He has assumed guilty man's responsibility.

FIVE THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE

In the cleansing of the leper the blood was applied in five places (Lev. 14:14-18).

When David met Goliath, the giant enemy of Israel, he chose five stones from, the brook. This was significant of his own weakness supplemented by divine strength. He used just one stone (one fifth) to bring the giant down.

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. When Jesus was crucified, His body was opened in five places. This was an act of divine grace. He was wounded for us. His wounds are immutable wounds (Zech. 13:6).

The Holy City, New Jerusalem, has five names: New Jerusalem, Holy City, the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, and the Tabernacle of God (Rev. 21:2,3,9). Those saved by grace shall dwell there.

THE FIFTH SPARROW

Jesus spoke of the fifth sparrow. Two sparrows were sold for a farthing, and five for two farthings (Matt. 10:29; Luke 12:6). "Not one of them is forgotten," not even the fifth one. God is teaching His grace in this. The God of the universe is watching over the sparrow, even the fifth sparrow which was thrown in extra. Even so, God, Who watches graciously over the fifth sparrow, desires that we trust Him with every detail of our lives in the confidence that He is caring for us.