God of Multiplication

When we learn arithmetic and mathematics, the first type of calculation we learn is addition. One plus one makes two; two plus one makes three; three plus one makes four, and so on. It is only when we advance in grades that we learn the so-called ‘complex’ arithmetic calculations like multiplication and division. Now, it is quite ironic that God in his infiniteness and majesty is actually a God of multiplication. David Bentley Hart speaks of God as absolute simplicity. If it is so, then how can we conclude that God is the ‘God of multiplication’? For that, I reflected on key events in scripture that help bring out the ‘multiplication factor’ present in God.

 

We take the first event that is noted in the book of Genesis. After God had created night and day, the sun and the moon, the stars in the night, the sea and its creatures, land and the animals, He created man and formed him in His own image. Later, as he was looking for a suitable partner for man, he created a woman out of man. What intrigues me is the verse that follows this whole narration: “... [a] man leaves his father and mother and is attached to his wife, and with her becomes one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) There you have it… the miracle of multiplication. In the very first book of the Bible, God reveals himself as a God of multiplication. The two joined becomes one not two.

 

Further, in the Bible, we come across the story of Abraham. After Abram undergoes numerous tests of faith, he is renamed Abraham. What happens after that is noteworthy. God tells Abraham that his children will be as many as the stars in heaven and as the sands on the shore of the sea. We see God subtly performing the miracle of multiplication by making old Abraham the father of many. There are other references to the ‘God of Multiplication’ in the Old Testament but we will restrict ourselves to these two only.

 

We move on to the New Testament. I will point out two key references in which God manifests himself as the God of multiplication.

 

The first is the multiplication of the five loaves and two fish to feed the five thousand. We are all familiar with this narrative. Jesus is preaching to the crowds and he notices that they are hungry. His disciples suggest that they send the crowds away, but Jesus asks his disciples to give them what they have. He accepts the meagre offering of five loaves and two fish. He knows well that it is not sufficient for the five thousand yet he accepts this offering. He multiplies them to the extent that the disciples collected twelve baskets full of leftovers.

 

We now move on to the origination of the miracle that we are all a part of - the beginnings of the Church. At his Ascension, Jesus commissioned his disciples (eleven of them) to go forth and make disciples of every nation. Later, we hear in the Acts of the Apostles that “...every day the Lord added to their number.” (Acts 2:47). ‘Add’. That’s odd, don’t you think. We discuss the ‘God of multiplication’ and here we see that God adds. However, if you were to look at the growth of the Church, you would notice a multiplication of believers in the first four centuries itself!! Even now, it continues to grow in leaps and bounds.

 

Lastly, we look at the mystery we celebrate on the Sunday after Pentecost: The Holy Trinity. In it we see a complete manifestation of the ‘God of Multiplication’. We know God as three persons in one: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are three persons in one Godhead. If we notice closely we see not 1+1+1=3 but 1x1x1=1.

 

And so, we could conclude that our God is indeed a God of Multiplication. He has manifested this facet of Himself throughout salvation history and he continues to do so even in our present times. If we were to look at the blessings He showers on us, we would lose count. He gives back sevenfold when we are generous. His miracles of multiplication continue to be manifested in our everyday lives. Are we open to recognize it and in turn recognize He who gives it?