Whether we want to admit it or not, most peopleare influenced by large numbers. In the world of sports, the hometeam advantage can help a team gain extra momentum from the volume ofencouragement from its fans. Similarly, all salespersons know that ifthey can convince you that “everybody who is anybody is buyingone," their task is a lot easier. What do you think is the reasonbehind TV commercials making it appear that a bunch of beautifulpeople are excited about a particular product? If large numbers didnot contain such a compelling force, then peer pressure wouldn’tbe the strong force that it is. For many people the idea that“everybody is doing it” somehow makes what it is“OK.”
Numbers also exhibit a strong influence over theway many people view the religious world today. Most people wouldconcede that one, ten, maybe even a hundred people could be misguidedby some guru. But when that same guru gains millions or billions offollowers then they reason, “how can so many people bewrong?” It is the sheer size of the number, not the teaching,which causes them to ask, “how could so many people bewrong?”
To summarize the common human viewpoint, manypeople are guided by large numbers in how they think. They can alsomake personal decisions and judgments simply based upon the sheersize of the number. The larger the number, the more likely it will bethat they will be convinced that it represents something right or atleast acceptable. This, however, is not how God reacts to numbers.Large numbers do not seem to have anymore influence with God than dosmall numbers.
We don’t know how many people were alive inthe world during Noah’s time. However, the Bible says thatmankind had already begun to multiply upon the face of the earth.(Genesis 6:1) And considering that according to the Biblicalchronology more than 1500 years had passed since Adam, there wasplenty of time for large numbers to have begun to appear especiallysince the child bearing years were considerably longer then. Yet, Godwasn’t concerned about how large these numbers were, instead theLORD determined that He was going to blot out all of humanity.Genesis 6:5-7 Except for Noah and his family, God did destroyeveryone from off of the earth. The fact that “everyone wasdoing it” didn’t matter to God.
Is it possible that God would completely destroy acity with more than 120,000 inhabitants? After all, that is a lot ofpeople. Yet, this is what God determined to do to the city of Ninevehduring the days of Jonah. The fact that Nineveh was “a greatcity” and “an exceedingly large city” for that timeperiod did not influence God to change his policies. (Jonah 3:3-4)Instead we find God telling Jonah, “Go at once to Nineveh, thatgreat city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come upbefore me.” Jonah 1:1 The only reason God did not destroy thecity is because he showed them mercy when they repented of their evilways.
Would God have actually destroyed all of thepeople of an entire city, an exceedingly great city? Just ask thedescendants of Sodom and Gomorrah - well, actually you can’t dothat. After removing Lot and his family, God destroyed everyone inthose cities of the plain. You can't heard their testimony unless youlisten to silence.
In stark contrast to mankind who often makesjudgments based upon numbers or other external qualities, God’sjudgments are based upon what is true and just. Just becauseeverybody is doing the wrong thing does not influence God to changehis mind. Jesus emphasized this truth when he taught, “Enterthrough the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the road iseasy that leads to destruction, and many go that way. But the gate isnarrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and few are those whofind it.” Matthew. 7:13-14 In our culture which presently valuesinclusion and acceptance it is religiously incorrect to announce thismessage today - but then the message of the cross is also a scandal.(1 Corinthians 1:23)
When you are preparing to make a decision, whetherits about how honest you are going to be in preparing your incometaxes, whether or not you will live a moral life, whether you willtell the truth in a difficult situation, or even in matters regardingyour relationship and service to God as to whether you will just gowith the flow or with what God has revealed in His Word - don’tbase your decision upon what others are doing or upon the falsesecurity that everybody else is doing it. Base your decision uponwhat is true and right in the sight of God ... because in the end,numbers don’t count with God.
Barry Newton, Copyright © 1998
Other Articles Which Might Be ofInterest:
Are Puddles Powerful? (Spirituality and the Psychological Impact of Numerical Size)
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