MIRACLES
Miracles, in the Bible, are extraordinary events that defy natural explanation and are attributed to the divine intervention. They serve as the demonstration of God’s power, authority, and compassion towards humanity.
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The term “miracle” typically refers to an occurrence that brings about a positive outcome and defies the laws of nature or is unverifiable through natural means.
From a deistic standpoint, a miracle is understood as a direct intervention by God in the affairs of the world.
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of
God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a
bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
( Exodus 3: 1–6
UNVEILING THE ALMIGHTY GOD
- God is a God of miracles:
In contrast to the handiwork of the God of miracles, the work of man is puny and trifling. God does marvellous things, and He does them all with His power, with no help from others.
You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples. (Psalm 77:14).
- The Bible uses three main words to refer to a miracle:
Sign, wonder, and power, these three words help us better understand what the phrase God of miracles means. A miracle is an act of God beyond human understanding that displays God’s power, inspires wonder in humans, and acts as a sign that God is at work in the world.
From a human perspective, a miracle of God is an extraordinary or unnatural event (a wonder) that reveals or confirms a specific message (a sign) through a mighty work (power). From the God of miracle’s vantage point, a miracle is nothing extraordinary or unnatural. It is simply a divine display of His might (power) that attracts the attention of humans (a wonder) to His Word or His purposes (a sign).
• The God of miracles uses supernatural power to reveal Himself to people on earth.
The Greek word translated “miracle” is dunamis (the root of our word dynamite) and means “power.” God’s miracles often defy or overpower the laws of nature, but not always. God can also work within nature to perform a miracle. When God parted the Red Sea, He used a powerful wind:
“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided”
(Exodus 14:21).
God does not use miracles merely as a means of authenticating Himself to people, but to reveal Himself to people who have eyes of faith to see.
• The God of miracles works extraordinary wonders to capture people’s attention.
The unusual, unnatural dimension of God’s miracles commands our attention. When the Lord caused a bush to burn but not be consumed, Moses took notice:
“The angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.’ When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am’”
(Exodus 3:2–4).
The wonder of it all piqued Moses’ interest and moved him to the place where he was ready to receive God’s message.
• The God of miracles uses signs to convey a message or reveal truth. People who seek signs often want to be entertained like Herod.
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long
time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort (Luke 23:8).
Then Jesus called Lazarus back from the dead to life. Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary saw this astounding miracle.
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
( John 11: 38-45 )
But God never uses miracles to amuse us; they always serve a purpose. Their overall objective is to glorify God. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He confirmed this purpose:
“Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they maybelieve that you sent me’”
( John 11:40–42 )
As a result, they put their faith in Christ and believed that Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus showed the disciples, and the world, that He has power over death.
- The power reveals the source of the miracle: God.
The wonder reveals the nature of the miracle: wonderful, awe-inspiring, and worthy of attention. The sign reveals the purpose of the miracle: to confirm a message or convey a truth.
The Bible portrays God as a God of miracles, a God who has revealed His power to us and is worthy of praise:
“Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvellous deeds”
( Psalm 72:18 )
His miracles declare His absolute control over nature, events, people, and powers. His miracles reveal who God is and awaken humans to His presence and the presence of His Kingdom. God works through miracles to reveal His glory, confirm His message, and convey His purposes and truths to those who see Him with eyes of faith. His greatest miracle is that He gave His one and only Son to become a man who, through His sacrificial death on the cross, overcame the power of death through resurrection. Jesus paid the ultimate price, the penalty for our sins, and accomplished the miracle of salvation.
MIRACLES IN THE BIBLE
The Bible is replete with accounts of miracles, often occurring during significant moments in the narrative of God’s kingdom. From the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt to the establishment of the early Christian church, miraculous events punctuate key epochs in biblical history.
I)The Exodus Miracles:
Delve into the miraculous events surrounding the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, including the Ten Plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the provision of manna in the wilderness. Exploring the theological significance of these miracles in shaping Israel’s identity as God’s chosen people and establishing the foundation for their covenant relationship with Him.
1. The Ten Plagues:
The ten plagues sent by God upon Egypt, including the turning of the Nile River into blood, the plague of frogs, gnats, flies, livestock disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the death of the firstborn.
(Exodus 7:14-12:36)
2. The Parting of the Red Sea:
Exodus 14 recounts how God parted the waters of the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to pass through on dry ground while causing the pursuing Egyptian army to be engulfed by the returning waters.
3. The Provision of Manna:
Exodus 16 details how God provided manna, a miraculous bread-like substance, to sustain the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness. Later miracle of the provision of quail for meat.
(Exodus 16:13-36)
II)The Prophetic Miracles of Elijah and Elisha:
1. The Raising of the Dead:
The narrative of Elijah and Elisha includes instances where they raised individuals from the dead, such as the widow’s son in Zarephath and the Shunammite woman’s son.
out to the LORD, “LORD my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” 22 The LORD heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.” (1 Kings 17:17-24)
32 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. 33 He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the LORD. 34 Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm.
35 Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.36 Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” And he did. When she came, he said, “Take your son.” 37 She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out.
(2 Kings 4:32-37)
These resurrections serve as potent symbols of God’s power over life and death, foreshadowing the ultimate victory over mortality through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
2. Multiplication of Food:
Both Elijah and Elisha performed miracles involving the multiplication of food to feed the hungry. For instance, Elijah multiplied the widow’s flour and oil.
8 Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”12 “As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.’” 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:8-16)
while Elisha multiplied barley loaves to feed a hundred men.
42 A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” Elisha said. 43 “How can I set this before a hundred men?” his servant asked. But Elisha answered, “Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” 44 Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD. (2 Kings 4:42-44)
These acts of provision not only demonstrate God’s compassion for His people but also challenge Israel’s reliance on material wealth and human efforts, inviting them to trust in divine providence.
III) The Miracles of Jesus
The ministry of Jesus Christ was characterized by extraordinary displays of divine power and compassion, as recorded in the Gospels. From healing the sick to raising the dead, His miracles not only brought physical restoration but also conveyed profound theological truths.
a) Miracles of Healing the Sick:
The miracles demonstrated Jesus’ compassion for the suffering and His authority over sickness and infirmity, revealing Him as the divine Healer and Physician of souls.
• Restoring Sight to the Blind:
Jesus encounters a man who was blind from birth. Jesus spits on the ground, makes mud with the saliva, and applies it to the man’s eyes. He then instructs the man to wash in the pool of Siloam. Upon doing so, the man’s sight is miraculously restored, and he can see for the first time in his life. ( John 9 )
• Enabling the Lame to Walk:
In multiple instances, Jesus healed individuals who were unable to walk. Jesus heals a paralyzed man lowered through the roof by his friends. Jesus forgives the man’s sins and then tells him to take up his mat and walk. The man immediately stands up, picks up his mat, and walks, demonstrating the power of Jesus’ words to bring about physical healing.
( Mark 2: 1-12 )
• Curing Various Diseases:
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is depicted as curing various diseases and ailments. Jesus heals a man with leprosy, a condition considered incurable at the time. Jesus reaches out and touches the man, saying, “Be clean!” Immediately, the man’s leprosy is cured.
8 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy[a] came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” ( Matthew 8: 1-4 )
Similarly, a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years touches the edge of Jesus’ cloak and is instantly healed.
( Matthew 9: 20-22 )
• Casting Out Demons:
Jesus frequently encountered demonic oppression and possession during His ministry, and He demonstrated His authority over the spiritual realm by casting out demons with a word. These exorcisms testified to His victory over the forces of darkness and His power to liberate humanity from bondage to sin and evil.
Gerasene Demoniac ( Mark 5: 1-20 )
Demon-Possessed Boy ( Mark 9: 14-29 )
Mary Magdalene ( Luke 8:2 )
• Calming the Storm:
In one notable miracle, Jesus calmed a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee with a simple command, eliciting awe and wonder from His disciples. This miraculous act revealed His sovereignty over nature and His ability to bring peace and tranquillity amidst life’s storms, both literal and metaphorical.
(Mark 4:35-41) (Matthew 8:23-27) (Luke 8:22-25)
• Miracles of provision
Jesus transformed water into wine at a wedding in Cana, demonstrating his power to provide abundance and joy in unexpected ways.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside
( John 2: 7–9 )
Jesus miraculously multiplied a small amount of food to feed a large crowd, emphasizing his ability to provide for the physical needs of many with abundance and generosity.
(Matthew 14:19–20) (Matthew 15:36–37)
b) Miracles of Raising the Dead:
Jesus performed several resurrections during His ministry, including raising Lazarus from the dead and the daughter of Jairus.
• Jesus’ raising of the widow of Nain’s son:
Jesus compassionately raised a widow’s son from the dead, bringing hope and joy to a grieving mother and illustrating his power over death itself.
11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
(Luke 7:11–18)
• Jairus’s daughter:
Jesus tenderly restored Jairus’s daughter to life, demonstrating his authority over death and his willingness to bring healing and restoration to those in despair.
52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. ( Luke 8: 52–56 )
• Lazarus:
Jesus performed a profound miracle by raising Lazarus from the dead, showcasing his power over the grave and foreshadowing his resurrection, bringing profound comfort and faith to Lazarus’s loved ones.
(John 11), (Mark 5:35-43)
Peter’s raising of Tabitha
Through Peter’s prayer, Tabitha was brought back to life, revealing the continuation of Jesus’s miraculous power through his disciples and emphasizing the importance of faith and community.
(Acts 9:36–43)
Paul’s raising of Eutychus:
Paul miraculously revived Eutychus after he fell from a window, highlighting God’s mercy and the power of faith in moments of crisis, strengthening the early Christian community.
( Acts 20: 7–12 )
V) Jesus’ resurrection:
Jesus conquered death itself through his resurrection, fulfilling prophecy and offering eternal hope to all believers, affirming his divinity and the promise of salvation for humanity.
24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices thehad prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ( Luke 24: 1–7 )
These miracles not only showcased His power over death but also foreshadowed His resurrection and the promise of eternal life for believers.
Understanding God as the God of Wonders
The phrase “God of wonders” encapsulates the extraordinary nature of God’s miraculous interventions throughout history. It signifies His ability to perform acts that transcend human understanding and demonstrate His supreme power and presence among His people. Among His most wondrous achievements is the act of redemption. When we say that God is a God of wonders, we mean that He is a God who carries out miraculous works. The Lord’s wonders declare His absolute control over events, people, and powers, and reveal His presence among His people.
Both the Old and New Testaments showcase God’s wondrous acts. In the Old Testament, two Hebrew words are translated as “wonder” in English: mopheth and pala. Mopheth means “a splendid or remarkable work” or “miracle.” The term is often associated with the “signs and wonders” Godperformed through Moses during the exodus from Egypt:
8 So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. (Deuteronomy 26:8)
Pala means “wondrous works” or “marvellous deeds” and frequently appears in the Psalms:
“We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds”
(Psalm 75:1).
These marvellous works by the God of Wonders are unique displays of divine power that go far beyond human ability and power. The New Testament also gives reasons why God is called the God of Wonders, using the Greek words thaumasios, megaleios, and teras.
• The miracles of Jesus are called “wonderful things” (thaumasios).
15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. ( Matthew 21:15 )
• Luke speaks of many “signs and wonders” (megaleios) performed by the apostles.
12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. ( Acts 5:12 )
• And in 2 Corinthians 12, the marks of a true apostle include “signs, wonders [teras] and miracles.”
12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. (2 Corinthians 12:12)
• God’s wonders reveal His omnipotence.
The plagues—each one directed at one of Egypt’s false gods— revealed Yahweh’s absolute power over all other gods:
“When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD
( Exodus 7:5 )
Not only did the Egyptians encounter God’s supreme power, but the Israelites also received assurance that their God was fully capable of defending them against the Egyptians.
• Through divine actions, the God of wonders reveals His character, His purposes, and His power on earth.
In response, people who witness His miracles are filled with awe and wonder.
“Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. (Habakkuk 1:5)
The pagan King Nebuchadnezzar witnessed the miraculous power of the Lord Most High. The wondrous deeds he experienced included a dream that was revealed and interpreted, three Hebrews being delivered from a fiery furnace, and the loss and restoration ofNebuchadnezzar’s sanity and kingdom. In response, Nebuchadnezzar enthusiastically praised the God of wonders.
2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.
( Daniel 4: 2–3 )
• God’s wonders reveal His love and protection.
The Lord led His people through the wilderness with a miraculous pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. (Exodus 13:21–22)
He fed them with manna.
(Exodus 16)
He provided water from a rock.
(Exodus 17)
Through it all, the God of Wonders showed the people of Israel His limitless care and protection.
• God’s wonders carry out acts of judgment.
When Aaron’s sons offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, God consumed them with fire.
10 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added
incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:
“‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’” Aaron remained silent.
(Leviticus 10:1–3).
When Korah, Dathan, and Abiram rebelled against Moses, they were swallowed up by the earth, and their supporters were destroyed by the Lord’s fire
( Numbers 16: 1–35 ).
• God’s wonders reveal His kingdom.
In the New Testament, the God of wonders authenticated His presence at a critical point in the history of salvation. God Himself entered human history in the Person of the Son, made incarnate.
Jesus Christ is the greatest wonder of all. Through His ministry, which was accompanied by wondrous miracles, He confirmed the presence of God and the nearness of His kingdom.
• God’s wonders are supernatural acts beyond human understanding.
Through extraordinary signs, the God of wonders demonstrates His limitless power, His inescapable presence, His divine protection, and His sovereign purposes. In each instance, God’s wondrous works are designed to draw people to Himself. Through His most stunning of all miracles, the God of wonders revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, overcame the power of sin and death, and redeemed His people for all eternity.