Day 1

What Is a Miracle?

from the The Miracles of Jesus reading plan


1 Kings 18:20-40, Psalm 65:5-8, Exodus 12:40-42, Exodus 12:51, Exodus 14:21-31, Exodus 19:16-25, Exodus 7:3-5

BY Rebecca Faires

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 18:20-40; Psalm 65:5-8; Exodus 12:40-42,51; Exodus 14:21-31; Exodus 19:16-25; Exodus 7:3-5

Seeing is not believing.

I ask for miracles all the time. I implore God for snow days, chase after lost causes, and jockey for acclaim. I ask God to change people. I ask Him to change me. And most of all, I ask Him to heal.

The possibility of miracles is such lush fruit to my imagination. It means that anything is possible. God could pop down, give a little nudge, and fix any problem. And when He doesn’t, it’s confusing. If He could do a miracle, why doesn’t He do one for me?

In preparing for this study, I noticed that Jesus doesn’t do miracles on command. He isn’t anybody’s trick pony. In fact, He blesses those “who do not see, and yet believe” (John 20:29), and He rebukes a generation that “seeks for a sign” (Matthew 12:39). And, man, I do love a good sign.

It seems if Jesus were just willing to do a bit of skywriting, all would believe and the world would be saved. It’s so much easier to ask for a sign instead of looking to the person of Christ, to hunt after what He can do for us instead of who He is. His miracles aren’t His message, but rather a testament to who He is. And even those who witnessed His miracles did not necessarily believe.

This study focuses on miracles performed by Jesus. But for a big picture, let’s step back and look at all kinds of miracles in the Bible. When reading any scripture, I ask myself, “What is God doing in this passage?” These passages on miracles make it easy to answer that question and learn more about the character of God in the process.

He is supreme and omnipresent: God shows His unearthly power when He scorches the dripping-wet sacrifices for Elijah at Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18).

He is sovereign and omnipotent: He is the Master of nature and quiets the storms (Matthew 8:23-27).

He is merciful and good: He is the source of our salvation (John 3:16; Hebrews 5:7-10).

He is holy and omniscient: He is the thundering presence on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19).

Miracles are one of the ways God expresses His “otherness” to us. They reveal Him in His power, and show us He is not like us. The rules of nature that bind us do not bind Him. The laws of a created world are amendable by the One who created it.

As we read through this study, think about what Jesus’ miracles tell us about His character. Remember that these are nothing less than acts of God performed by Immanuel, “God with us.” Although signs and wonders may not accompany every moment of our lives, the One who makes them possible does.

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Post Comments (170)

170 thoughts on "What Is a Miracle?"

  1. Emily Burroughs says:

    Love spending time in God’s word!

  2. Ashley Evers says:

    Almost ten years ago, my daughter had open heart surgeries and doctors called my husband and told him to prepare for her death. But God. I put my face on the ground that day and the cry of my heart was “No God! Not my baby!” The Lord and I had a moment there where He told me to pick myself up and walk in faith to her room and choose what I will bury her in. I did. It was my Abraham and Isaac moment. But God. He was sovereign – and he allowed my miracle to live. And now, as I lay here and read this devotional this morning, she rolls over to me and says “I love you, Mommy” with a big hug and kiss and my heart is aware, once again, of a miracle I’ve witnessed.

  3. Angie Gremore says:

    Enjoying this plan☺️

  4. Heather Lopez-Renteria says:

    I read day 1 of the bible study. Sometimes the miracles I have prayed for would not actually have been a miracle ( in hindsight). Most of the things I want were materialistic not a health miracle or miracle financially etc. I loved how in our reading he had went and rebuked a generation that seeks for a sign. That struck my soul to the core. It was very powerful to read. I now feel guilty always saying where is my sign God oh send me a Sign so I know. When in reality God asked me and everyone who believes in him to seek him for guidance and the choices we are to make in order for us to see those miracles in our life.

  5. Jenni Jex says:

    Cannot wait to learn more about Jesus through this study!

  6. Madison Christine says:

    The mere existence of miracles is such a blessing. Miracles are amazing for more than one reason. Yes, they are God’s hand blessing us…but they are also God’s way of reminding us that yes, He is engaged in us, yes, he is paying attention. They are a peak behind the curtain that is the mystery and awe of God. I am honored to see Him in His miracles.

  7. Marianne Wilson says:

    Sometimes the miracles I have prayed for would not actually have been a miracle (in hindsight). How hard it is to trust God when we pray for miracles that don’t materialize. Sometimes, though, that too can be a miracle, we just don’t know it until we’ve traveled down the road a little further…

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