What Is a Miracle?
Open Your Bible
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.
170 thoughts on "What Is a Miracle?"
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This is such a great reminder of how powerful and righteous our God is, I love how in Psalm 65 it says that He ansewrs us with awesome deeds of righteousness. It may not be what I want or ask for, but He will be righteous. When I was reading Exodus 14 I also noticed part of Exodus 15 which really caught my attention. In verse 9 it starts with “The enemy boasted I will pursue, I will over take them…” but in the next verse it says “But YOU blew with your BREATH and the sea is COVEREd by them. They sank like LEAD in the mighty waters”… Our God can destroy the enemy with his BREATH! and make things sink like lead! This completely gave me hope today!
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“He rebukes those who search for a sign.”
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I have experienced several miracles in my walk with God but im pretty excited to continue reading and studying through this plan. I have gotten to a point in my life where i have ask God to help me know Him and follow and serve Him simply for who He is. Not for what he can do for me. And this plan is a wonderful remider of His power and Majesty. We serve an Awesome God!
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Amen Wendy! I am always telling myself, “pray, wait, trust”. No matter what the outcome, it has always led me to where I’m supposed to be!
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I’ve never thought if a miracle as being more than for salvation or healing purposes. This devotional (day 1) is allowing me to see the many ways in which God uses miracles to reveal His character. It serves as a great reminder of how God shows Himself and educates others on who He is, through the miracles He bestows upon us. As I’m batting breast cancer, this is my prayer- that the miracles performed through me be a testament to His character, that believers an unbelievers may say “I have seen Yahweh”. Loving this devotional so far!
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Praying for you!
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“The rules of nature that bind us do not bind Him.” What a powerful statement. Often times my plans are ruined from a rain storm or sickness or some unexpected force of nature. I have zero control over those things and have learned to just work around those circumstances. BUT. God is not restricted nor bound by stormy weather… he simply moves the clouds and proves His power. That sentence hit me hard this morning and it put God in perspective. He is absolutely the most powerful force… the one can do anything; the one who has control. I think… in today’s society of self-righteous mindsets… we need to be reminded that God is more powerful than us. No matter how great we are… God is greater.
SRT- Thanks for a great first post to this series!
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I receive this in my heart. 4yrs ago an aneurysm ruptured in my brain left me lying on the ground outside, I was in a coma, had a stroke while in that coma. Last year had bile duct surgery, thank God it wasn’t cancerous surgery went good & through the Grace of God im here.. through all my faults the Lord showed Mercy & Grace
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This is just what I needed. Been a follower of Chirst since I was a child. 41 now and I can’t do the normal “Read through the Bible” again. This is fresh and touched me immediately. Can’t wait to settle in and enjoy His Living Word again!
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I am “settling into” this study like a big comfy chair. Praying for a fresh revelation of this miracle working God I serve.
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