Fractal is my favorite word.
A “fractal” is a never-ending repeating pattern in which many smaller shapes together comprise a larger whole that is a scaled up version of the many smaller shapes comprising it.1 Fractals are made by repeating a simple shape, or process, over and over in an ongoing feedback loop, as illustrated below. On the left is a single, equal-sided triangle. Beside it is an equal-sided triangle made up of four smaller, equal-sided triangles which, themselves are comprised of four equal-sided triangles, and so it goes forever. The triangle on the far right is made up of an infinite number of smaller equal-sided triangles.1
Fractals are both simple and infinitely complex. Because a single shape in a fractal is a picture of the larger pattern, once you understand one small shape you understand the big picture too. Simple. What boggles the mind is that fractals go on forever into the infinitely small and the infinitely large. Complex.
The Bible is God’s Word.
God’s Word is both simple and infinitely complex. The stories of The Bible convey wisdom so simple a child can understand, and yet they contain wisdom so deep and profound that the wisest of philosophers can never fathom it. God’s Word reveals His character, and His character is consistent and true to His Word.
The imagery, symbolism, and meaning of the stories show a repeating pattern throughout the Old and New Testaments — all pointing to Jesus as the Messiah who came to fulfill God’s promise and purpose. Consider that the very first word in the original Hebrew scrolls containing the Book of Genesis is B’reishit, which is translated: “In the beginning.” Scholars note that the Hebrew bet symbol, or “B,” in those manuscripts is enlarged to call attention to itself.2 When it stands alone, the bet symbolizes “a house.” It is a pictogram — both an alpha-numeric character and a symbol that resembles a house or shelter — that looks like this: ב
Hebrew doesn’t have vowels so when you add the resh (or “r”) symbol, you get the Hebrew word bar, meaning “son.” The remaining letters form the Hebrew word reishit (pronounced ‘ray-SHEET’), which means “beginning” or “first”; though, in particular contexts, the Israelites understood it to more specifically mean “first fruits of the harvest.”2 For example, in Leviticus 23:10, Hebrew manuscripts used the word reishit where today’s English Bible translates: “first grain you harvest.”2 Combining the first two letters and the last two letters of b’reishit produces the Hebrew word brit (pronounced ‘breet’), which means “covenant.”2
Thus, unpacking and expanding the embedded meanings in the very first Hebrew word in the Book of Genesis into a modern English sentence, we can see there’s a bigger picture and a greater meaning: “In the beginning (B’reishit), the God of Israel created Heaven and Earth because He desired to have a house (bet) for His Son (bar) by means of a covenant (brit) for those who are classified as His first fruits (reishit).”2
I am awestruck and inspired by the fact that the whole story of the Bible — every story that points to Jesus as the Messiah and giver of eternal life — is encapsulated in the first Hebrew word B’reishit that was written on a scroll about 1,500 years before Jesus was born. This word, God’s Word, is like a seed containing the image of a tree — the Tree of Life — into which the seed would grow. And then, through the stories of the Bible, we see it did grow! These very same images — house (tabernacle, temple), son (firstborn, heir, inheritance), covenant (promise, rainbow, commandments, forgiveness), and first fruits (beginning, first of the harvest, choicest, chosen ones) — are main themes that play out over and over again throughout the stories of The Bible.
God affirms this point in Psalm 78: “My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old — things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendents; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.” (Psalm 78:1-4)
The repeating patterns in the stories are intended to teach us of the divinity and purpose of Jesus in a way that goes beyond mere telling. Though they tell of Israel’s history, the stories also convey a deeper symbolic meaning and, therefore, they are also parables. God’s truth and wisdom is embedded in the very language, history, and culture of the Israelites. God’s Word remains consistent and true throughout; and it not only tells, it shows!
God’s Word is fractal.
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1 Fractal Foundation: http://fractalfoundation.org/resources/what-are-fractals/ (accessed Oct. 2, 2013).
2 Chumney, Edward (1998): The Seven Festivals of the Messiah. 2nd ed. Treasure House Books, Inc. (Available online at http://www.hebroots.com/sevenfestivals.htm)
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Discussion questions
1. What repeating patterns, or recurring themes, have you observed in the stories of the Bible?
2. In your walk with Jesus, have you seen some of these same patterns play out in your own life?
3. If so, what wisdom has He been teaching you?
