Breathingbook

When we talk about shadows or symbolism, we’re talking about the mysterious ways God uses symbolism in scripture. Symbolism is where an object or symbol represents something other than it’s obvious interpretation. In other words, sometimes – certainly not all the time – things mean more than what they seem.

Similar to Key Phrases, symbolism is utilized to communicate in such a fashion as to meet each person according to wherever they are at with God.

Some of the most common forms of symbolism used in the Bible are parables, shadows, dreams and visions.

The type of symbolism most familiar to believers is the parable. Jesus used the parable of the Sower (Mat 13:3-9) to teach how the Word of God would reach some and not others, and the way in which the world would react to the Word of God being sown.

Jesus taught in this way (Mat 13:10-16) to, basically, fulfill prophecy (Isa 6:9-10). The gist of it being God hides the true meanings of things from those who have come to take the things God provides for granted. Jesus briefly explained the symbolism of the parable of the Sower in Mat 13:18-3. (If you would like a more detailed explanation of the parable of the Sower, please click here).

Mat 13:3-8 …a Sower went forth to sow …some seeds fell by the way side & the fowls came & devoured them up: some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; …because they had no root, they withered away and some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: but other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit..

The basic symbolism for the Sower parable is thus: the Sower is Jesus (or a believer He is working through). The seed is God’s Word being taught in the world. In this particular instance, the fowls symbolize the devil and his minions. The stony places are the hardened hearts of those who should be able to hear. The sun is a heated, difficult trial or situation. The root represents having a firm foundation in the gospel. The thorns represent non-believers or those who sin willfully. The good ground is an open, willing heartand the fruit is the kind which Jesus alone can produce through true believers.

Symbolism in the Bible is also sometimes referred to as “shadows.” God’s institution of the Law of Moses (Heb 10:1), the restrictions in the OT of meat, drink, holy days, festivals, Sabbaths (Col 2:16-17) and the layout of the Tabernacle (Heb 8:4-5; Heb 9:1-10) all as symbolic shadows of that which is coming or that which is currently in the heavens.

Heb 9:23-24 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavensshould be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.

For example, in the Temple, the candlestick or menorah represents the Churches (Rev 1:12,13,20 ). The table of shewbread, which has the twelve loaves upon it, represents the 144,000 Jews of the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev 7:4-8) after they have come to Jesus. The alter of incense represents the prayers of the saints (Rev 8:3-4), the veil before the Holy of Holies represents the difficulty of mankind to see beyond the flesh of Jesus Christ (Mat 27:50-51; Heb 10:19-20; 2 Cor 3:13-16), and in the Holy of Holies, God is represented as residing above the Mercy Seat between the two cherubims (Exo 25:21-22). All these are symbolic representations.

Symbolism continues on in the Bible with dreams and visions – with the exception of more “literal” dreams or visions – such as Joseph’s visitation by the angel in a dream (Mat 1:20-21) or Isaiah’s vision of the Lord in His throne room (Isa 6:1-5). Literal dreams or visions pretty much present a “what you see is what you get” message or visitation.

An example of a symbolic dream from the Old Testament would be when Joseph dreamed of binding sheaves with his brothers (Gen 37:5-8) and the sheaves of his brothers stood all around Joseph’s sheaf and bowed down to it as if it were royalty. Joseph’s brothers were incensed against Joseph for this dream, but the sheaves represented the issue of food and provision, of which, although the eleven brothers were all equally sons of Israel, they would all indeed eventually bow down to Joseph when they came to him in Egypt to obtain food (Gen 42:6-8).

Symbolism plays a very large and exciting part in the study of the Bible and it is something that a lot can be learned from. I pray that God opens the mind of your understanding of Biblical symbolism, that you might increase in the knowledge of His ways and His will.

If symbols apply sometimes, but not all the time, how do we know when they do apply? When you see a pattern in the bible that is often recurring and implicating the same theme, then you MAY have a symbol. Again, only scripture itself can determine this or substantiate it, because the symbol must be in accordance with God’s Word.

If by chance you do not already know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, won’t you please consider asking Him into your life today? Simply pray this little prayer: “Lord Jesus, I need you to come into my life and be my Savior. Please forgive me of my sins, wash me, and make me whole?” If you’ve prayed this prayer from your heart, I promise you Jesus has heard you and has received you. A wonderful, mysterious journey has just begun.

Peace out!

Loris James