Friday the 13th – be afraid, or trust the God of numbers?

(excerpt taken from my upcoming “Think Divinely Daily Devotional”)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.”  Leviticus 19:31

Superstitions have been around since the dawn of man.

One superstition, which is prevalent today, is the bad luck of the number 13. Enter an elevator and notice what floor is typically missing—the thirteenth. What space flight seemed cursed? Apollo 13. Some folks watch their step on Friday the 13th, and, of course, horror movies such as Friday the 13thhave been big box-office hits.

Origins

Some think the earliest known origin of this superstition centering around the number 13 comes from ancient India, where it was considered unlucky for thirteen people to sit together. In Nordic mythology, the evil Loki is the ’13th guest’ at a banquet of gods, which ends in arguments and violence. The most famous origin involves Judas Iscariot, the so-called traitor apostle, who was the ’13th man’ at the Last Supper. Jesus was crucified on Good Friday, which got linked to the number 13 for a day of unholy luck. ‘Friday the 13th’ also marked the mass execution of the medieval Knights Templar. Following tensions with the Vatican, the Christian knights were all but wiped out beginning on Friday, October 13th, 1307.[i]

Where Your Focus Should Be

Unfortunately, people (yes, even some Christians) start to focus on the meaning of numbers instead of the God of the numbers. Remember, God created it all, and His desire is that we seek His face and not turn to quick fixes or superstitions. He desires relationship, and He has the answers we seek. We must pray and wait patiently for how He may answer. God wants you to turn to Him first.

Divine Thought: Don’t seek out mediums or other New-age astrological signs to find answers.
Trust that God will provide the answer in His time—be expectant for it in your prayers.

 

[i]Mitch Horowitz, 13 Superstitions that Still Scare Us (The HuffingtonPost.com, Inc., April 12, 2015). Accessed April 20, 2017.

 

5 Comments

  1. Melissa Henderson April 13, 2018
  2. Nancy E. Head April 13, 2018
  3. Tony Clark April 13, 2018
  4. CHRISTINA DRONEN April 14, 2018
    • LisaQAuthor April 14, 2018