My night was not a good one. I am sure that I am not the only person to ever have a long night of not sleeping or very interrupted sleep. A night of interrupted sleep can be so frustrating. Sometimes my body signals to me that I need to get up! Other times, I cannot find a way to be comfortable. In the middle of the winter, we have come to know that often our bedrooms stay very cold and it is hard for me to sleep if my feet are cold. And I have learned that if I have aches and pains, that it is hard to sleep for the needed rest that bodies need to heal and rejuvenate. The night I am thinking of was not cold, it was not because my feet were cold and did not seem to because of extra aches and pains. I was awakened at one point and noticed the time on the bedside clock was about 3:30am. Not a time when I like to be awake! But in my drowsiness of wanting to be asleep, it seemed like I went back to sleep for another couple of hours. Awake about every two hours is sometimes very normal for me, normal but not a normal that I like. But when I glanced at the digital clock again, it was letting me know that it was 3:34. I determined to go back to sleep and closed my eyes. After what seemed like another “two hours” of sleep, my eyes opened once again! Now it was 3:36. This story repeated again and again. The two hours of sleep that I half-awake thought was 2 hours was just a figment of my drowsy sleeplessness. It was just repeating over and over and over again. It was only the next morning that I started to figure out what had happened. Needless to say, my night of sleep had really been a long night of not very good sleep at all. It made me start to think about what lesson could I learn from this repeating story.
With the day we call Groundhog Day on our calendar just around the corner—February 2 which I also remember as my Grandmother’s birthday—I was reminded that there is a movie by that name. Groundhog Day is a 1993 American fantasy and romantic comedy film. Starring Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and others, it tells the story of a cynical television weatherman covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, who becomes trapped in a time loop, forcing him to relive February 2 repeatedly. That is kind of what was happening to me in the night when I wasn’t exactly sleeping though I thought I was. A time loop is a narrative device where characters repeatedly experience the same period of time, often with one or more characters retaining memories to break the cycle, famously seen in some films like Groundhog Day. It’s a plot form that explores themes of consequence, personal growth, and finding meaning in repetition. A fixed period of time like a day or in my case 2 hours vs a couple of minutes, resets, forcing characters to relive events, but sometimes can retain knowledge from previous loops, allowing them to learn, change, or try different actions. In my experience that night, I did not learn, change or try something different. I was just frustrated at not being able to change what was happening! Supposedly the purpose of the fictional stories is to explore character development by showing how individuals react with infinite chances and no lasting consequences, testing their morality, skills, and persistence. For me, I can see no purpose in my repetitious few minutes of “sleep” or really no sleep!
All my thoughts about repeating actions or thoughts made me wonder what things that repeat when I read the Bible and other spiritual thinkers. The Bible utilizes repetition as a literary and theological method to emphasize basic truths, to help aid my memory, and demonstrate the intentional design of its story for me. The repeated themes help create a “big story” picture across thousands of years of human history that does not deviate from the true meaning and purpose of what God wants me to know. Many people summarize the overall message of the Bible by a repeated four-part group of themes. They are Creation ideas that repeat God’s original, good design for the world and humanity. Ideas of the Fall showing us that we as humanity have repeated rebellion and turning away from God (Sin). Redemption themes showing God’s persistent pursuit to rescue and forgiving me and all people. Making all things new, Restoration, is the final promise of a new heaven and earth where everything is made right for me in this world of sinfulness.
God Creates – Genesis 1, Revelation 21:22-24, Psalm 139:13-14, Hebrews 1:1-3, and Colossians 1:15-17 Humanity Falls – Genesis 2-3, Romans 5:12, Romans 8:20-22, and Romans 3:9-23
God Redeems – Genesis 12:1-5, Ephesians 1:3-11, Galatians 2:20-21, and Ephesians 2:1-5
God Makes All Things New – Revelation 21:1-5, Matthew 19:28, Romans 8:18-21, and Ephesians 2:19-22
My search has led me to find other repeated ideas in the Bible. Covenant: God establishes sacred, binding agreements with individuals (like Abraham and David) and the nation of Israel to show His unwavering devotion. God’s Presence & Sovereignty: The constant reminder that God is with His people and maintains ultimate authority over history. Faith and Trust: The call for humans to rely on God rather than their own understanding, mentioned over 500 times. Justice and Mercy: The tension between God’s absolute holiness (often repeated as “Holy, holy, holy”) and His abounding steadfast love and mercy. Exodus Pattern: A recurring cycle of slavery, divine rescue, a wilderness testing period, and entry into a “promised land”—repeated for Israel in the Old Testament and spiritually for believers in the New Testament. All of those repeating ideas are going to make me need to do lots more Bible study. I got too comfortable with just teaching the stories of the Bible for years. I definitely have more in-depth study to do! Though I do enjoy learning the patterns repeated in the Bible. A highlight of my college Bible classes was a professor who found matching outlines in many Bible books. Or in many chapters that I had never seen or heard about.
There have been studies on one phrase or word that is repeated in our Bibles and words from God for us. “Praise the Lord” is a recurring call to worship found throughout the Psalms and the New Testament. “His steadfast love endures forever” is an often-repeated refrain used extensively, most notably in Psalm 136, where it is repeated 26 times. When I have visited other non-Seventh-day Adventist churches I have seen those repeated words and phrases used often in their worship as they say them in unison.
The Bible often shows us “types”—repeated story patterns where a later person or event mirrors an earlier one to show God’s consistent plan for you and me.
That is done in New Leaders stories. Moses is often presented as a “new Noah” (both saved through water), and Jesus is definitely called the “New Adam” (who succeeds where the first Adam failed). Then I read about how in the book of Judges, the cycle of “sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance” repeats through multiple generations of our Bible people. In the books of prophecy in the Bible, there are emphasized and repeated warnings and calls to repentance that highlight the seriousness of Israel’s disobedience and the urgency of returning to God. The prophets often repeated their messages to make sure that the people understood the consequences of their actions and the hope of restoration. Again, I need more in-depth study!
I once decided to make a new year resolution to carefully read the Bible with several versions to use going verse by verse and then to write down what was interesting and a new thought to me in a notebook. I eventually failed my new resolution but did make it through the first several books of the Bible. I remember realizing that God made a covenant with His people (the Israelites), made the same covenant over and over and over. He repeated it so many times, I thought He should have been very frustrated with His chosen people. I have been told that Biblical “repeats” can be understood in various ways that can include the repetition of events, themes, and teachings. Repetition in most literature emphasizes important truths, reinforces moral lessons, and ensures the transmission of divine instructions for all generations. Biblical students see that in Scripture are often records of events that repeat more than once, showing us their significance in God’s redemptive plan. The Israelites’ repeated cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance in the Book of Judges underscores the persistent need for divine intervention and the importance of faithfulness to God. The Bible themes such as covenant, redemption, and obedience are repeated throughout Scripture. The promises and covenants made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are repeated to emphasize God’s unwavering commitment to His people (Genesis 12:1-3; 26:3-5; 28:13-15). I have often wondered how the Israelites so easily forgot their promises to God and the covenants they made with Him. But then there is me–I forget to remember the resolutions I make nearly every day, that I promise I will not say ………that again, that I won’t………do that again. I forget so often and it is a hard lesson to learn. I am like Paul, I do what I do not want to do. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.” I am no better than the Israelites. Jesus often used repetition in His teachings to everyone and for me, to ensure understanding and retention. For instance the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son in Luke 15 all convey the theme of God’s joy over the repentance of sinners.
The New Testament has lots of repeated stories of Jesus’ miracles, teachings, and times with His disciples. This gives everyone fuller understanding of His ministry and mission. Matthew, Mark, and Luke often tell the same events with slightly different variations, and we get to see complementary views of Jesus’ life and work. Paul often repeats ideas to reinforce the main parts of our Christian faith. For example, the theme of justification by faith is given in both Romans and Galatians. Repeating is deliberate to convey God’s truth, reinforce His commands, and to make sure that His message continues throughout history. Repeated themes invites us to remember, reflect, and respond to God’s call to faithfulness and obedience.
I learned that an Exodus pattern re-occurs in the Old Testament in three parts: The Way Out (rescue from bondage), The Way Through (wilderness testing/provision), and The Way In (entry into a promised land) There is Abraham’s Journey (Genesis 12 & 15)
Abraham’s life is a “mini-exodus” that foreshadows the nation’s future—
The Way Out: Abraham is called out of UR to go to a place God will show him.
The Way Through: He travels through unknown lands, facing tests of faith.
The Way In: He arrives in Canaan, promised as an inheritance to his descendants.
This happens again in Lot’s Deliverance/rescue from Sodom (I can study Genesis 19)
And again on The Return from Babylonian Exile (Isaiah 40–55) I should study this more.
Prophets like Isaiah explicitly used “New Exodus” language to describe the return of Jewish exiles from Babylon. The Way Out: God promises to “bring out” His people from captivity in Babylon, just as He did from Egypt. The Way Through: Isaiah describes a “highway in the wilderness” where God will provide water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:16–21).The Way In: The exiles return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and restore the land.
In 1 & 2 Samuel, even David follows the same Exodus-to-Temple pattern. David spends years fleeing, learning to trust God’s provision and finally, he prepares for the Temple, God’s dwelling place. The New Testament uses this same pattern in the life of Jesus.
The most repeated command in the Bible is Be happy– “praise the Lord,” “do not be afraid,” “rejoice,” and “give thanks”—all of which command me to be happy. . “Fear Not” (or “Do not be afraid”) is also often cited as the most repeated command in the Bible, appearing in various forms over 365 times to reassure believers of God’s presence.
Maybe you fear what people think of you? Not having enough money, Public speaking, flying, being far from home, or spiders, Failure or rejection, Losing a loved one, Disease or pain, Death, these are common fears. We all long to “Fear not,” to be free to love and be loved. We all long for more of God’s peace during stress, danger, and uncertainty. Personally, I want to be free of the fear of my blood pressure readings. I had a very bad one followed by a pretty good one just this week. Which one will become the recorded one? UGH! God doesn’t want us to go a single day without hearing his word of comfort: “Fear not!” “Fear not!” is the most repeated command in the Bible. It’s been said that there are 365 “Fear nots”—one “Fear not” for every day of the year including Leap Year! “It’s a nice to say that there are 365 ‘Fear nots’ in the Bible, but it’s not true.” There is not a Bible version with 365 times of indicating “Fear not.” The KJV says “Fear not” or “Be not afraid” 103 times, but not 365 times. But why? “Fear” is spoken of over 500 times in the KJV. And addition to the “Fear nots” many times the Bible teaches us to “Fear God.”
Things that repeat over and over are from natural cycles (sunrises, tides, seasons) and daily habits and routines (brushing teeth, eating), the brain gets “stuck,” often seen in dementia or stress, causing repetitive speech or actions, patterns (fingerprints, tree rings, flower petals, porcupine quills), In the Mind (emotional, worries, earworms/catchy songs or jingles stuck on repeat, Worries/Thoughts ( “What-ifs” playing endlessly due to stress or anxiety). And then there is Déja Vu feelings kind of like what I experienced at 3:30am and is nothing more than neurons firing in the memory part of the brain when no memory is actually being recalled. It feels like a memory for an instant. And we can never remember when we got the memory…because we never did get that memory. We only got the feeling of a memory.
I long for no not sleeping, Rest that doesn’t require sleep, and no repeating, no Fears! Come Jesus, fix it all!