As I recorded this weeks podcast on the God of Miracles it really got me thinking about the importance of miracles. I mean think about it, what if we removed all of the miracles from the Bible? What would we be left with? Miracles are all throughout both the Old and New Testaments. It is one of the prominent ways that God differentiated himself as the one true God. Wasn’t it the miracles that set Him apart? Didn’t he continually reveal himself through the miraculous?
Miracles in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament God shows himself to the Israelites through one miracle after another. Beginning with Moses, he asked God what if the people don’t believe you have sent me?, so God has Moses throw his staff to the ground and it turns into a snake. God revealed himself to Moses through a miracle, and it’s kind of funny to think of Moses running away from that snake; I would’ve run!
There’s a whole series of miracles God does in Egypt when Moses is asking Pharaoh to let my people go. He starts with the old rod into a snake and then moves through ten different plagues and of course culminating with the famous crossing of the Red Sea. Wouldn’t you like to see actual video footage of this day in history? It is believed the number of Israelites crossing over numbered around 2.4 million people. Can you imagine what that might have been like?
As a side-note, back in 2016 I recorded a podcast on the crossing of the Red Sea. If you are interested, you can take 30 minutes to meditate on this amazing miracle. The title of the podcast is Turn Your Gaze.
There is a long list of miracles that God did in the wilderness, providing water from the rock; manna from Heaven; and Aaron’s rod budding just to name a few. There are also some pretty significant miracles during battle, the falling of the walls of Jericho and the sun and the moon standing still.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
What about the miracles released by Elijah, and twice as many by Elisha? Who can forget Jonah and the whale? Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into the fiery furnace only to walk away unharmed? And of course there’s Daniel in the lions den. It’s no secret that God reveals Himself by way of miracles all throughout the Old Testament.
Miracles in the New Testament
Jesus was also really big on miracles in the New Testament. He revealed himself as God through the miraculous. Remember the God of miracles you grew up hearing about? Well I am that same God, and let me show you, through miracles. I’m not sure Jesus could have explained the importance of miracles more clearly then by saying if you don’t believe what I am saying, believe me because the of miracles:
But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”
John 10:38 (NLT)
Jesus spent his three years of ministry preaching and doing miracles, teaching the disciples to do the same. From water into wine, calming the sea, healing the sick, cleansing the leper, opening blind eyes and deaf ears, raising the dead, growing missing limbs, and multiplying food, Jesus continues to show up through miracles. And of course God raising Him from the dead is the key foundation of our faith.
Everyday Miracles
Accounts of the miraculous don’t end with Jesus. All throughout the Book of Acts we continue to see miracles done through the hands of the disciples. Including Peter’s shadow (Acts 5:15) and Paul’s handkerchiefs. (Acts 19:12) They spoke of how the gospel comes with signs following, i.e. miracles.
For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.
1 Thessalonians 1:5a (NLT)
For whatever reason, God chooses to reveal Himself to us through miracles. It is important for us to learn how to fully embrace this in our own lives; to come to know Him as the God of miracles.
How do you look at miracles? Do you see them as important to the gospel? To your life? In what ways are you willing to embrace the miraculous? Do you have any stories where you have seen the God of miracles show up in your life? We would love to hear! Leave a comment below.