upWORDS Exodus 3:14-15 The Language of PI

Language.  We are always talking about WORDS, let's talk about languages.

Yesterday we read out of Acts 2, how the Spirit's coming was able to diversify tongues so that the disciples could speak (or the hearers could hear) in the language of "every nation".  It was made clear, the Spirit not only empowered them to speak in a language foreign to them, but He gave them "utterance" or "to plainly communicate, declare" the message of the gospel of Christ to "devout men."  Here these men came to Jerusalem from all over the world to celebrate the giving of the Law, and here Peter tells them they were the ultimate lawbreakers, that devout men crucified the Messiah.  But all these things must be...Just like Jesus told His disciples throughout His ministry and the two on the road to Emmaus...

We tied this reverse of language back to Babel in Genesis 11 where the people were of one language and one mind, set against God such that "nothing would be withheld from them." And the pursuit they chose?  A waterproof tower to reach the heavens to protect against a worldwide flood.  So there He confused their language (note, families could still speak together, maybe even tribes) and therefore ensured the fulfillment of His command to go forth and multiply and fill the earth.  Acts 2 was restoration of Genesis 11, so that His message might by the power of the Holy Spirit go out to every tongue, every tribe, every nation.

In Psalms 19, we find that the very Creation, in specific the "heavens" declare in a plain language that goes out to all the earth such that no place does not hear it and comprehend it.  And then He gave the scriptures, the written WORD of God. It's "perfect converting the soul."  What is it the scripture says converts the soul?  Not the language of the heavens, the Word of scripture.  Wow. Universal language, revealed truth, plainly communicated (see Romans 1:16-21).

Ok, so let's get to our upWORD.   

upWORDs are to have us look up, to see the Only Wise God, to Him only be Majesty, Glory, Dominion, and Power both now and forever, Amen (Jude 24-25).  Today, it's PI day, so let's look at the language of PI. (note the post time exactly)

PI:  3.14159... it is the number defined as the ratio between the circumference of a circle and its diameter. It is one of five infinitely complex and simple numbers known to man:

0 - nothing
1 - unity, or everything (They Might Be Giants fans love the song, "There's Only One Everything")
e - the natural number (discussion for another day)

i - imaginary number (square root of -1, yep, another day)

π  - pi.  

So what is so significant about pi?  Why is it so interesting to those who believe in a Creator God?  Well, let's look at a couple things.

First.  A circle.  

A perfect circle means that it is a polygon (multi-sided figure with equal size sides) with an infinite number of infinitesimal (very very very small) sides.  Approaching an infinite number of sides, π  then goes on forever, no repeating pattern.  Any number that is not whole and has decimal places that goes on forever is an "irrational" number.  1/3 is 0.3333_ repeating.  But 'e' and  π go on without repeating.  In short, to make a perfect circle you need a perfectly imperfect number...

π shows up all over math and physics, not just circles. Anything to do with repeating patterns (like waves), infinite series, even statistics.  If you take two numbers of any size,  it's been proven the odds that they don't have common factors is π /6. Freaky.  

Einstein, Newton, gravitation, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, and the expansion (or collapse) of the universe, all relate to  π .  (I won't bore you with the equations.) In the words of one mathematician "Pi, circles, e, and the Pythagorean Theorem are best friends forever." 

π is FREAKY, MAN!

 Some peculiar things about pi the number.

• The first 144 digits of pi add up to 666. (the number of a man is "calculated" 666 Rev 13:8)
• the quadrillionth digit (1,000,000,000,000th) is 0. Really? why that exact digit?
• Pi is a ratio, but it's been proven to be irrational, which means it can't be a true ratio...
• According to number theory:
  
  • Any numerical notation of pi is either an approximation or an abbreviation.
• Since pi can not be expressed in numbers, pi is not a number.
• Because pi is not a number, the circumference and the diameter of a circle can not be numbers simultaneously.
• The qualities of a circle are in that regard not unlike speed and location of a quantum particle, which can also not be simultaneously known. (sorry, lost you on that one)
• The circle is impervious to a numerical approach and it stands as a symbol for scientific insufficiency.

π in the Bible

So let's look at some verse.  Start with Exodus 3:14-15.  After all, π is  3.1415. Exodus 3 is Moses and the burning bush. Moses asks, "who shall I say is sending me?"  The Almighty speaks from the bush "tell them I AM THAT I AM."  The infinite name.  In verse 15 He goes on to say "this is My name established forever."  Interesting that this passage occurs in 3:14-15.  Coincidence?  Maybe.  Then John 3:14-15.  Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up and draw all men unto Himself.  That those who believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  (You'll have to look up the story of the bronze serpent to get all that He just said there.)  Wow.

Another interesting thing.  A lot of hubub over the centuries exist about 1 Kings 7:23, which says the circular basin is 10 cubits in diameter and 30 cubits in circumference.  A lot of argument about whether the Bible is wrong because the ratio of the two should be pi, and in this case equals 3, not 3.14159...  One response said this:

What is pi?
Mathematician: Pi is the number expressing the relationship between the circumference of a circle and its diameter.
Physicist: Pi is 3.1415927 plus or minus 0.000000005.
Engineer: Pi is about 3.

What do you think?

Somewhere I read that our search and conundrum with π (and the irrationally infinite) goes back to the garden: the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  Both were part of the first of creation, which some say was absolutely perfect.  Of the Tree one Adam could freely eat, of the other he was forbidden to eat, lest by death he would die.  Sin by definition is not measuring up, anything less than perfection.  Adam, we, I, chose the missing, the just less than perfect.  So the Perfect had to give Himself to die that by death He might overcome death by imperfection.

More importantly, as this is an upWORD, what does this bizarre, complexly simple, profoundly amazing little number tell us about our Infinitely Delightful Brilliant Lord?

Pi, circles, e, and the pythagorean theorem are all best friends forever.

Reference https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/whats-the-significance-of-pi.263423/

Pi, circles, e, and the pythagorean theorem are all best friends forever.

Reference https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/whats-the-significance-of-pi.263423/

foreWORD Revelation 1 Turning Away

Life Truths family,

I'll warn you I lost control of the keyboard about halfway through...

I have two WORDS this week, the first being a homework assignment in preparation for this coming Sunday.  Normally we do a passage from the book the pastor is preaching from, but this week I’d like to pose a question to discuss.  It fits with the lesson but it requires a lot of thought ahead of time. Can’t spring it on you last minute. Please be prepared to discuss, with references.

1    1.  foreWORD and this week's topic.         

      The song Amy Burchik wonderfully sang yesterday (no idea how she go through that!  I asked her and she said she has to think things like baseball, dirt…  I really believe Stuart Townsend could submit that to a hymnal, it really is that kind of timeless music and lyric.  Lots of great songs on the radio, moving lyrics and music.  But old or new, there is a clear distinction not just in music style but in the thickness of the thought of hymns.

Selah verson (with lyrics):

Spoiler alert!  The topic for this coming week's small groups discussion breakout is the second line of the second stanza:

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Doubtless most if not all of you have been taught “God turned His face away from Jesus on the cross.”  Is that true?  I offer a reward for anyone who can put the chapter and verse to where the Bible says that.  But let's have this discussion.

Arguments for:

Arguments otherwise:

I want to be clear this isn't about splitting hairs or even having a right or wrong answer, though the process is certainly about gaining better command of scripture.  There is no difference in any of the other lines of the song if you change this line or if you find truth in any viewpoint on the subject of the Father's turning or not turning away.  That's important.  More clearly true is that whether He turned in pain or watched His Son in His most crucial ministry, it does not diminish the Son's glory or the Father's love!  And I believe both perspectives will enrich our lesson in Revelation.

Others say the crucifixion is the physical manifestation of the OT prophecy, the sun (the light who worships the Father, see Psalms 19) was darkened, and the moon (reflection of the Light in the Son, see Col 1) was turned to blood.

Come prepared to discuss.