Prophecy and symbolism abound in the Bible.  The gospels point back to the Old Testament as prophecy many times – virgin birth, coming from Nazareth, riding a young donkey, by his stripes we are healed, and many more.    

There is at least one instance of numerical symbolism that Jesus employs – the seventy-two (or seventy – ancient manuscripts vary) disciples he sends out two by two in Luke 10.  These men are sent out into every town and place where he himself was about to go, as an advance advertisement that Jesus and the kingdom are coming.

This sending out was a precursor to the Great Commission – believers are called to be witnesses for the Lord, making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28.19).  And we know all nations will be reached because the saints are singing praise to Jesus in Revelation 5 – “you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

The number seventy (or seventy-two) is appropriate  because back in Genesis 10 there is an impressive list of seventy men’s names you don’t hear much anymore – the only ones I recognize are Shem, who was one of the Three Stooges, and Nimrod (Mighty Hunter), which some school in the Upper Peninsula has for a mascot. These are the generations of the sons of Noah, those born to them after the flood.

Genesis 10.32 says, “From these, the nations spread abroad on the earth”. So the nations were formed long ago, and early in Jesus’ ministry he lets people know he came to reach every nation by sending out just the right number of heralds.