The Power of Two

As usual, this week after writing last week’s The Power of One…my mind started wandering.  Then the idea for a follow-up called The Power of Two came to my mind.  When I googled that phrase, all kinds of things came up.  If you are a math whiz you probably know what the phrase means in the math world.  But I found there were also different stories with that same title – a movie, a TV show, a music video, a story about twin girls with health issues.  There was, as expected, information about healthy marriages, etc.  There was a story about the famous partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney with that same title written in 2014 in The Atlantic magazine. Then I read an article with the same title that was posted January 8, 2021 in Psychology Today* about a study done in 2020.  They asked more than 4000 people about their preferred size for a group to socialize – surprisingly the majority was a “group” of two.

So let’s take a look at what we can find in the Bible about “groups” of two in order to see if there is any special power to that number.

Mark 6:6b-7a (VOICE):  “…Jesus went out among the villages teaching, and He called the twelve to Him and began to send them out in pairs…”

Luke 10:1 (CEV):  “Later the Lord chose seventy-two other followers and sent them out two by two to every town and village where he was about to go.”

Why would Jesus do that?  I believe for one thing it was so they could support and encourage one another.  I am sure that being in a ministry position trying to reach people can be pretty discouraging at times, because you know there had to be situations when they were ridiculed and rebuffed.  

Here is an example of how having support from others can win battles.  Exodus 17:8-13 (CEV):  “When the Israelites were at Rephidim, they were attacked by the Amalekites. So Moses told Joshua, ‘Have some men ready to attack the Amalekites tomorrow. I will stand on a hilltop, holding this walking stick that has the power of God.’  Joshua led the attack as Moses had commanded, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur stood on the hilltop. The Israelites out-fought the Amalekites as long as Moses held up his arms, but they started losing whenever he had to lower them. Finally, Moses was so tired that Aaron and Hur got a rock for him to sit on. Then they stood beside him and supported his arms in the same position until sunset.  That’s how Joshua defeated the Amalekites.”  Without the power of those two (Aaron and Hur) there to support Moses, the Israelites likely would have lost that battle.  

Also, in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (AMP):  “Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor; for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and does not have another to lift him up. Again, if two lie down together, then they keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”  

In my opinion, it seems that if there is a time that you have two people sharing things with you, and they are in agreement, it is easier to accept and believe what they are telling you – it seems to be more trustworthy than if it was someone alone.  For example, the Bible talks about how you need at least two witnesses to convict someone of a crime – Deuteronomy 19:15 (CEV):  “Before you are convicted of a crime, at least two witnesses must be able to testify that you did it.”  

And, Matthew 18:20 (CEV):  “‘Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.’” 

Matthew 18:19-20 (MSG) tells us the importance of agreeing with others in prayer in order to see things accomplished:  “‘When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.’”

Although it is important for us to love ourselves and to have times of solitary reflection, the fact is, walking alone can be disheartening and so very lonely.  So, I believe this is all evidence that the Power of Two in our spiritual walk is very important.  We need to have that other person there at times.  It will provide us support, encouragement and assistance when needed, as well as the power and effectiveness necessary to impact the lives of others.  

Written by Karran Martin – March 28, 2022

[All bold emphasis is mine]

*https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-asymmetric-brain/202101/the-power-two