92 Peas
I am blessed to have the opportunity several days each week to be with my grandchildren while their parents are at work. Recently, as I prepared to feed the baby I noticed the label on his pureed vegetables.
92 peas . . .
Who counts the number of peas that are smushed up in a half cup of baby food?
And . . . what difference does it make how many peas are in the tiny container of liquified food?
When do exact numbers matter?
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples and a crowd of thousands pushing to be close enough to hear Him. Our Lord believed numbers were important.
God sent an angel to speak with Abraham: “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Genesis 22:17a
Scripture reminds us that God is so attentive to each of us that He knows the number of hairs on our head. Abraham is reminded that God cares about his descendants and that they will be blessed beyond measure. And in the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus points out the importance of one . . .
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulder and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:4-7
Have you ever been that one?
Did God seek you and find you when you were lost?
I’ve been rescued when I strayed far from God and I’m eternally grateful that my Savior loved me enough to rescue this “one.”
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
The little lost sheep who wandered away from the shepherd has much in common with people. Like us, sheep are easily distracted. They succumb to temptation. They lose sight of their caregiver and get themselves in trouble.
But Jesus cares for each one. He cares for the many. He knows us not just by number, but by name.
Katherine, your title intrigued me. What a precious post about numbers that matter to God. Thank you for highlighting the importance of numbers in Scripture which we’ll now notice more. I’m thankful God sought me when I was the lost sheep. Praise His name that He loves each ONE of us.
When I pulled the package from my daughter’s cabinet, the first thing I saw was “92 Peas”! It intrigued me, too. I was so surprised they would actually count (or claim to count) the peas they pureed. I’m amazed. But, of course, it got me to thinking about how numbers are so important to our Lord and Savior and that everyONE is special to Him. Wishing you a blessed week, Jeannie.
He counts the number of hairs on our heads! And He knows how many peas are in every package of baby food–and every can of soup! The accounting of the lost sheep is so encouraging. Great post, Katherine!
I never cease to be amazed by the messages God sends us in the ordinary. But there’s is nothing ordinary about our Father’s attention to detail. I agree, the story of the 99 and one sheep is so encouraging, expecially to those of us who have been the rescued one.
What a great title and I love the Scripture verses. Thanks so much.
Thank you, Sylvia. The label caught my eye right away so the title was easy. I’m glad it brought a smile for you. Aren’t we blessed that both numbers and names (ours, those of our loved ones, and everyone) matters to our Father?
I’m with you, who counts peas? That is a strange thing to put on a label, but it did give a good comparison to how important numbers are for us. God does see us all as the “one.” We are all individuals in His eyes and He speaks to our hearts as lost sheep and then continues to speak after he finds us. (I wonder whose job it is to count 92 peas for each baby food container? Lol) You are blessed to be with your grandchildren every week!
Yes, Barbara, I am amazed at that, too. Of course, as J.D. mentions, it’s a marketing tool and I think it works. It really caught my eye. Thank you for adding your insights. We are individuals (very special ones) to God. He knows our heart and exactly how to reach us. I am very blessed that my children live close and I have the joy of watching (and helping) my grands grow up. God is Good!
92 peas? You gave us much “food” for thought in this post on the significance of numbers and details— hairs on my head always reminds me of God’s intricacies and gives me security. Thank you!
“Food” for thought–that is a good one, Marilyn. God provides us with much food for thought in His Word and grants us daily lessons as an extra blessing. The “hairs on our head” remind me of God’s attentiveness, although for those of us with thinnng hair or no hair, I’m sure God devises another way keeping our close connection to Him. As you say, “God’s intricacies give security” and we have a lifetime to study those intricacies as we draw nearer to Him.
Your writing always leaves me asking reflective questions and encourages me to strive to grow closer to God each week Ms. Katherine. This amazing post is no different ma’am. Isn’t it so interesting how God can use everything in His creation (even someone’s marketing idea to report the purported number of peas in a jar of baby food) to teach His lessons to us. Thank you for your well-tuned spiritual radar to pick this up and share it with us. Such a blessing ma’am.
Thank you for your encouragement, J.D. You are so skilled at sharing the lessons God sends you from His creation. You are right–God uses everything in His creation to teach us lessons and help us walk more closely with Him on this earthly journey. It’s all helping us do His work on Earth as we prepare for eternity with our Lord and Savior. Hope you day is blessed, my friend.
Katherine, being a Mimi who has fed that same baby food to three granddaughters now, I loved your thoughts. It is amazing how the little things we notice in life can speak so deeply into our hearts. 92 peas. One sheep. Precious. So grateful He came for me, the one.
Yes, Joanne, we are both blessed that He came for us. As one who strayed, I’m ever mindful of His love and mercy. He’s the Shepherd who gave His life to save the sheep. We are so loved and blessed.
Funny story, great thoughts, Katherine! The idea that the Lord knows the number of hairs on our heads really boggles my mind—and shows the incredible nature of our Father. Thanks for this reminder of His specific knowledge and care of us!
Thank you for stopping by my blog and the kindness and encouragement you shared in your comment. My mind is boggled, too, by our Lord’s great love for us and His specific care of every individual in His kingdom. We are so blessed. Wishing you much joy and happiness on your journey, Wendy.
I have been the “one” many times and God never gave up on me. One of my favorite Scripture about number is Psalm 139_17-18 NLT)
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
(Psalm 139:17-18 NLT)
Thanks so much for sharing that scripture, Candyce. Psalm 139 has so much beauty and assurance for us and those two verses are very special. Like you, I am so grateful that God has rescued this “one” (and others) many times. He is the God of second, third, and many chances. He doesn’t give up.
Not only does Jesus care enough to know the number of hairs on our head (in my case, subtracting each time I run a brush through mine) I especially appreciate the fact that he knows me and calls me by name. That speaks to our heart when someone calls us by our name, cares enough to commit it to memory. Thanks for keeping an eye out for meaningful spiritual lessons as you go about your day, Katherine!
Mary, I know the feeling of sadness when I look at my hairbrush, too. Oh, well, everything changes as we get older, except God’s great love for us and His continued blessings. Well, perhaps the blessings change–we keep getting new ones! Yes, God knows our names and I agree, it makes us feel special when someone remembers our names (and reminds me to do a better job of remembering others’ names. Thank you for adding your insight and sharing encouragement.
Katherine, here are song lyrics I like:
“Teach us to count our days.
Teach us to make our days count.
Lead us in better ways
Somehow our souls forgot.
Life means so much.”
Great thoughts about numbers!
I haven’t heard that song, Ben, but I like the lyrics, too. So much wisdom there–to help us not to take our blessings for granted. Thank you for sharing.
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8 NASB
Our God cares more than we can imagine!
To know that our God is so attentive to each of us is just beyond our ability to comprehend. As you point out, it is difficult to imagine our Father’s infinite capacity to love. He is with us through all our sorrows and is so close to us that He catches our tears. Thank you for sharing this verse of Psalm 56 with us, Annie.
What a great title–it just drew me in to chuckle at the 92 pureed peas and be reminded of the fact that God cares about numbers and everyone of His sheep! Thank you for a sweet story and reminder of God’s love!
Kathy, Now I catch myself looking at the labels each day, to see if I can receive another chuckle. Yesterday, my little one’s vegetable label bragged to contain 153 peas! Whoever came up with that marketing plan certainly exhibited a flash of brilliance. I’m glad I could share a smile with my blog. But as we both recognize, it isn’t the number of peas that bring us great joy–it’s knowing that our Father loves and cares for each “one” of us and the multitudes as well.
I love that we serve a God who is in the details. That He cares for all and the one.
Oh, I agree, Jen. Our God is in the details. Love that. He grants us new blessings each day. Wishing you a blessed week and Happy Thanksgiving!
Katherine, I enjoyed how you connected the 92 Peas to how God numbers the hairs on our head and seeks the one who is lost. Nothing is too small or too big for Him!
“Nothing is too small or too big for Gad.” You are right, Debbie. I’m so thankful He seeks out the lost, even as unworthy as we are. We are so blessed.