When Have Miracles Occurred?
A couple of weeks ago, I began a series of lessons on miracles. Our first lesson was concerning the very definition of a miracle. What exactly IS a miracle in the bible? To view that lesson, please click on “Do Miracles Occur Today? – Part 1; What is a Miracle ?”
However, the question that I’d like to deal with this week, is.. When have miracles occurred? The question of WHEN miracles have occurred, is pertinent to the understanding of how God has used His miraculous power and might, and it is also pertinent to answering the question, “Do miracles still occur today?” As one reads through the bible, it becomes apparent, that miracles were definitely NOT, a common everyday occurrence throughout history. But rather, there were very specific periods of time, in which miracles have occurred. And of course the bible tells us of those specific times in history, when God used His supernatural power, to effect miracles.
The Creation
And of course the starting point when miracles first occurred, was at the very beginning of time, at the creation. God obviously used his supernatural power during the creation of the worlds; During the creation of of the earth, and the expanse of the sky, and all the other planets, and all the stars and moons; And in God’s creation of man, and every other living thing that exists upon the earth, God obviously used His miraculous power to create, all that exists. To bring about “something” out of “nothing”.
People who call themselves evolutionists, don’t accept the fact that God created all these things. They’d rather believe that all this came about as a big “Accident”, as a “Big Bang”, so to speak. That everything that exists TRULY, came from nothing! But that’s not even logical! NOTHING, appears out of “nothing”.
The Evidence
When you look around you, and you see all that nature displays, and when you think of the amazing intricacies of life itself. And when you think of the awesome size and power of the universe, and how ALL these things, from the most minute, to the grandest, actually work together, and compliment one another, you can’t possibly believe that it’s all just an “accident”, and a “freak” occurrence.
When I said a minute ago that God brought about “something” out of “nothing”, I didn’t mean literally.. “out of nothing”. And the bible doesn’t claim that everything came from literally “nothing”. Here’s how God actually phrases it in the scriptures.. Hebrews 11, verse 3 says; “By faith, we understand, (and hold onto those words.. “we understand”, because it’s not hard to understand, and it’s not a mystery, when you know, and believe the scriptures) “..we understand, that the universe was created, by the word of God, so that what is seen, was not made out of things that are visible.” Not literally “out of nothing”. But out of nothing “visible”. In a manner of speaking, one could say that everything, came into existence, out of nothing.. That is, nothing but the will of God!
All the things that exist, the things that we SEE everyday, were created by the word of God, in other words, by the WILL of God. Has God not “spoken” His will? He absolutely has spoken His will. Hebrews 1, verse 3 tells us that “in these the last days”, He has spoken His will to us through His Son, “through whom also He made the world”. Is the WILL of God visible? Nope! But the result of the will of God, is quite visible. And it all serves as the evidence, of God’s supernatural powers, and might, and strength, and ability, and God’s presence and His existence!
We read in Romans 1, verse 20; “For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, (namely..) His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
“They” being those who deny God, and who “suppress the truth in unrighteousness”, verse 18.
That doesn’t sound like any category of people that I want to be among, because the first part of verse 18 says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men… who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”
Intelligent Design
There is intelligent design in everything we see, and even in the things we can’t see. And that intelligence is far greater than the intelligence of any human being. And if there is intelligent design, there is of necessity, a very intelligent DESIGNER! And that designer is GOD!
The apostle John, who wrote miraculously, by the inspiration of the very Spirit of God, and he recorded these words, speaking of the Christ, the Son of God.. “All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him, nothing came into being, that has come into being.” (John 1, verse 3)
So we can easily see that the creation, was the first period of time in which the supernatural powers of God were used. Does all of creation serve as “a sign” or as “an indication”? That’s what the definition of a miracle is.. “a sign or an indication, of the power, and presence of God! And so, does all that has been created serve as a sign, and as an indication of the very presence and power of God? YES it does! Once again, Romans 1:20 says; “For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, (in other words, they’ve always served as a sign!) “.. being understood, through what has been made, so that they are without excuse!”
It’s not hard to understand, is it? It’s not hard at all. God uses all of creation, to serve as a sign, and as an indication of His presence, and of His power, and His ability. Though God is invisible, His presence is clearly understood, and clearly proven, by what we see!
Here’s something that I re-read just a short time ago, and you might have seen this yourself. It says.. “To embrace atheism, I would need to believe, that nothing produces everything, that non-life produces life, that randomness produces fine-tuning, that chaos produces perfect order, that unconsciousness produces consciousness, and that non-reason produces reason. I simply didn’t have that much faith.”
And I might add to that.. But faith in God, that’s not hard at all. I definitely have that much faith!
Here is an Important Point
Now here’s an important point that should be remembered, and which applies to all of the periods of time in which miracles occurred.. In the first “time of miracles”, after God had created all that he desired, as related to us in the first two chapters of the book of Genesis, was it necessary for God to keep performing miracles, in order to keep the entire universe, and the entire creation running, and functioning as commanded? Was it necessary for God to keep re-creating man and woman over and over again, and likewise every other living creature, and likewise, every other inanimate object? Well, the answer is of course NO. Within God’s creation, the means by which everything is sustained, was created also; And yes, it was created miraculously, but now, it continues on it’s own accord, according to the laws which God has ordained.
The plants yield their seed, to reproduce after their kind. The animals yield their seed, to produce after their kind. Read in particular Gen chapter one, verses 11-12, and then, verses 21-25. God said in these verses, that all these living plants and animals should reproduce, “after their own kind”.
In Gen 1:26-27, God tells us how He created man, both male and female.
“In Our own image”, “according to Our likeness”. Then in verse 28, God said to them; “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea, and the over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Once created, everything produces after its own kind. Every action, causes a re-action. But the point is; That once God had finished the miraculous part, He then ordained that the “natural” part should take over God has set things in motion, through miraculous action; But now, the laws that God miraculously established, are what KEEPS things in motion. And every created thing will continue as ordained, until God commands them, to STOP!
Hebrews 1, verses 2 & 3 says; “But in these last days, He has spoken to us by his Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of His glory, and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.” God’s word upholds everything that has been created. That means He “carries it along”. He conducts and orchestrates the continuation of all things. He ordained it, and so it continues.
2 Peter 3:7 reveals that, “The present heavens and earth, BY HIS WORD, are reserved for fire, KEPT for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” The heavens, and the earth, and all things created, continue to exist, “by His word”. And when God’s word says so, all things will cease to exist. All these things are being “kept” for the day of judgment. In other words, God is going to use His creation, to bring about the destruction of the ungodly.
2 Peter 3:10 tells us, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and it’s works will be burned up.”
God has set things in order, and they will stay in order, until the end of time, or as Peter wrote, until “the day of the Lord”. No miracles are needed to keep the heavens and the earth functioning, as God has ordained. God tells us in Gen 2:1-2; “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. And by the seventh day, God completed his work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day.. (and a more accurate translation is..) “He ceased on the seventh day, from all His work which He had done.”
Now God could “sit back” so to speak, and let “nature take it’s course”. All of creation came about miraculously, but now it continues “naturally”. The first time that the sun appeared in the sky, it was a miracle. But now the sun appears in the sky every day, and it’s no ,miracle, but rather, it occurs through the laws of nature. The first human beings to be created, was a miracle. But now human beings are created every day, and it’s no miracle, but rather, it occurs through the laws of nature, ordained by the word of God.
It’s interesting to note, that the next mention in the scriptures of any “miracle” taking place, didn’t occur, until 987 years had gone by. Almost a thousand years, and everything continued on just as God ordained, until one day, God decided to intervene with His natural laws, and effect another “miracle”. It was really a very simple event, but still, it sounds to me like it was “outside” the natural laws which God has established. It’s described very briefly, in Genesis 5, verses 23 and 24. Here’s what it says; “And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God, and he was not; For God took him.”
Did Enoch simply die a “natural death” as all other did before him? It doesn’t sound like he did. “For God took him” the scripture says. God “took” Enoch. You might say that Enoch, was “raptured”. Not really the “natural” way of going. But rather, God intervened. A clear sign of God’s approval. “Enoch walked with God, and he was not!” And I suppose that served as a “sign” for everyone who knew, Enoch. Live faithfully, and “walk with God”, and God will take you too! And it’s a sign for us too isn’t it?
And here’s what we could call, “a companion verse”, simply because it fits so well here. Micah 6:8 says; “..And what does the LORD require of you, But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
And let’s let that be our invitation today, to “walk humbly with our God”, today and every day. And as Jesus said in Revelation 2, verse 10; “..Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
No More Miracles for 1656 years
I hope that I have wet your appetite, to learn more about miracles, and about God’s word. After the creation, at least 1656 years went by, before any more miracles are recorded for us. Miracles certainly weren’t an everyday thing, were they?
I’m going to have to close for now, but I promise that I will continue to let the bible answer the question as to whether miracles are still happening today. Be sure to read, “Do Miracles Exist Today? – Part 2”, and also, “Do Miracles Exist Today? – Part 3”. The final Part 4, will be coming soon. I’ll look forward to studying with you more on this subject.
But for now, keep reading God’s word, and if you have any questions about what we’ve covered so far, be sure to leave your questions or comments, in the comment area below. Thank you for studying God’s word with me today, and may God bless you.
