Where are the Miracles?

…if the LORD is with us …where are all His miracles… (Judges 6.13)

We must decide if miracles are miracles and we must decide whether miracles are necessary. If miracles are necessary, would we believe one if we saw it or heard it?

Now, there is the consideration of biblical miracles but there is also modern miracles to ponder. Does God do miracles today? I think there is sufficient evidence that he does but for this occasion, please allow me to steer our thoughts toward the miracles that are recorded in the bible.

First off, let’s try to understand what a miracle is:

God is the God of miracles. His act of creation would be nothing short of miraculous. You can’t do these things with a test tube and a bulldozer.

We could say that the new birth is miraculous. I have seen people’s lives changed completely by God’s grace as they became new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5.17). Drunks have become sober. Addicts have been totally freed of their addictions. Bums have become productive. The stingy have been made generous. Grouches have become nice (well, at least some of them). Enemies of the cross have become steadfast proponents of Christianity. While the new birth is supernatural and powerful, this is not what we usually think of when we consider miracles. We would call this Spiritual.

Some might say the conception, formation and birth of a baby is a miracle. I would almost agree with that assessment. I believe the development of human life in the womb is an absolutely amazing work of God but it falls into the realm of the natural, as extraordinary as it may be. Sometimes natural phenomena can be as amazing as the miraculous and all are a work of God. The one who sometimes works supernaturally is the same God who set in motion the powerful natural forces of life, reproduction, gravity and many more marvelous things.

We might think that God’s provision for us is miraculous. I remember one year when I had just enough needed to pay my unexpected taxes (those were days when I never had any extra money except for this occasion). I thanked God because I knew he had provided. His hand was obviously and undeniably at work in this. But, was this a miracle? Instead of miraculous, I would call it providential – which is nothing to sneeze at.

How may we define a miracle? The most concise, clear definition is one I found online. It says a miracle is:

An effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause. Such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God. [i]

Easton gives further enlightenment, stating:

It is an occurrence at once above nature and above man. It shows the intervention of a … supernatural power. [ii]

Are miracles something one can expect to see on a regular basis? Should we be asking, “Have you had your miracle today?”

I say no. Just as we do not constantly feed our children desserts, neither does God constantly pour out miracles in our lives (with rare exception). Even in bible times, among Apostles and Prophets, miracles did not always flow continuously. This shows us that God is sovereign in how he dispenses miracles.

Most biblical miracles were performed during the days of these three clusters:

1. Moses and Joshua: Moses evidently did twenty miracles.
2. Elijah and Elisha: Elijah did fourteen and Elisha twenty-eight.
3. Jesus and the Apostles:  Jesus performed thirty-seven miracles, Peter six and Paul nine.

While there were several others who did miracles or had them happen to them, such as Samson, Stephen and Philip, there were not many other miracles besides those listed above. These included healing the sick, walking on water, raising the dead and many others.

Then, there were periods in Bible days when there were no miracles. They seem to have been very rare in the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments and seem to have subsided after the time of the Apostles. John the Baptist did none but was considered by Jesus to have been the greatest of all men who were born of women.[iii] On certain occasions, Jesus did not do miracles when it was expected. Toward the end of his life, it seems that miracles decreased down to nothing for Paul.[iv]

Why then did we have miracles?

Sometimes they were given just as a mercy from God. Someone had a need and God met it in a supernatural way.

Some miracles were for the glory of God. God wants to be glorified – in part so that we may come to know him.[v]

Most miracles were done to validate the work of God in an Apostle or Prophet – or in the case of Jesus, the fact that he was the chosen Messiah. Otherwise, anyone can just show up and say, “I’m God’s chosen one and this is what He has to say.”

Rather, we have these words about the verifying factor of miracles:

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20.30-31)

And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs... (Mark 16.20) [vi]

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. (2 Corinthians 12.12)

How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? (Hebrews 2.3-4)

God would use signs, miracles and supernatural Spiritual gifts to verify not only the messengers of the gospel but also the message of the gospel.

Then why doesn’t everyone believe the gospel if God gave us these miracles to accompany the advent of his written word? Answer: Because some refuse to believe regardless. The bible says:

If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead. (Luke 16.31)

Did God perform miracles through those he called out to represent him? Yes. Does he perform miracles today? Though I have seen God do amazing things, I cannot say that I’ve seen a miracle. You too? Does that exclude us from the fold of the faithful? No. We do not have to witness the miracles if we have the testimony of reliable witnesses – which we do.

The bible says; “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10.17) It doesn’t say that it comes to us through miracles.

God gave us miracles so that we could see that Jesus is the Son of God and so that we could trust the scriptures he gave us through the Prophets and Apostles.

Some who have not yet believed the gospel might say they would expect God, as Christians portray him, to do miracles. They might even say they would not believe unless they saw or were sure of such a thing. If that is so, here are the facts:

God doesn’t always do miracles, but sometimes he does. These miracles verify all that God says to us in his word – that Jesus is the promised Messiah who died in behalf of our sins, rose again, and is coming again. You can trust in him.

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[i]  www.dictionary.com/browse/miracle

[ii] Easton Bible Dictionary

[iii] Matthew 11.1

[iv] 1 Timothy 5.23; 2 Timothy 4.20; 2 Corinthians 12.7-9.

[v] John 9.1-3; John 11.3-4.

[vi] Here the word “signs” is a reference to miracles.