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The definition of miracle
according to the Dictionary:
- an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses
all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural
cause.
- such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.
- a wonder; marvel.
- a wonderful or surpassing example of some quality: a miracle of modern acoustics.
| Recently on the
news: (picture from foxnews.com) |
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After
the crash many of the passengers said it was a miracle
that all survived, while others said they were very lucky.
A few did state that they prayed and thanked God
(very few).
After the accident many started to praise the pilot as a
"Hero" for keeping
everybody safe. I am not denying that the pilot did a
great job, but did anybody think that maybe, and I mean
just maybe "God" was the true pilot that kept everybody
safe. We constantly hear of people that survived situations like this, and you will hear them state that
it was a "miracle", but for some reason God is never
mentioned.
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Keeping in
mind that most of the definitions of "miracle" involves "divine
intervention", and most people will acknowledge the possibility;
But will not refer to God as this "divine intervention". Sometimes the
divine intervention is using someone as an instrument to get
someone through these situations, but it is still God who truly
allows these stories to be happy stories of survival and not
always stories of tragedy.
During watching a television show, the story of a young
man who survived the war in Vietnam was showing.
This young man, survived a bomb where his body went through some
terrible trauma, also brain damage had occurred. In the hospital he recovered, but had to go
through
tremendous therapy for over a year. Since his brain was damaged, he
had to learn everything all over again. Well many years after
his recovery he wanted to find the nurse who helped him through
this period of time, see he constantly wanted to give up, but
the nurse wouldn't let him. Well needless to say that at the end
of the story they were reunited. But God was never mentioned....
Another story dealt with a newborn baby who died during
birth. The mother was needless to say in distress over losing
her baby. The Doctors attempted to revive the child, but were
not able to. During preparation for the autopsy the doctor heard
a sound like a gasp of air and thought it was just the body of
the baby releasing gases. But then another sound and then the
baby woke up, an hour after being pronounced dead. Of course
the doctors could not explain what happened, but attributed this
as a miracle. Also the parents of the baby realized that this
must be a miracle. Again "God was never mentioned.
I find it difficult to understand how people cannot
realize the power of "God" when confronting situations like
this. I realize all the miracles that "God" has done in my life,
and I've never had just drastic situations as the one listed
above.
In the Vines, there are four Greek words for "Miracle" which
are used:
- Semeion, a “sign”, i.e., an evidence of a divine commission; an attestation of a divine message (Matt. 12:38,39; 16:1, 4; Mark
8:11; Luke 11:16; 23:8; John 2:11, 18, 23; Acts 6:8, etc.); a token of the presence and working of God; the seal of a higher
power.
- Terata, "wonders;" wonder-causing events; portents; producing
astonishment in the beholder (Acts 2:19).
- Dunameis, "might works;" works of superhuman power (Acts 2:22;
Rom. 15:19; 2 Thess. 2:9); of a new and higher power.
- Erga, "works;" the works of Him who is "wonderful in working"
(John 5:20, 36).
Miracles are seals of a divine mission. The sacred writers
appealed to them as proofs that they were messengers of God. Our
Lord also appealed to miracles as a conclusive proof of his
divine mission (John 5:20, 36; 10:25, 38). Thus, being out of
the common course of nature and beyond the power of man, they
are fitted to convey the impression of the presence and power of
God.
(statement taken from
www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/miracle.html.)
Lets take a look at a few
"Miracles" in the Bible:
| Creation of this earth & all
creatures. |
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Genesis 1-2 |
| The great flood
in Noah's time |
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Genesis 7-8 |
| Confusion of the Languages |
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Genesis 11: 1-9 |
| Burning Bush & not consumed |
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Exodus 3:3 |
| Plagues on Egypt |
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Exodus 7: 20 - 12:30 |
| Parting of the Red Sea |
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Exodus 14: 21-31 |
| Manna sent daily (Except
Sabbath) |
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Exodus 16: 14-35 |
| Aaron's rod budding |
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Numbers 17: 8 |
| Balaam's mule speaks |
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Numbers 22: 21-35 |
| Jordan River divides |
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Joshua 3: 14-17 |
| Fall of Jericho's Walls |
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Joshua 6: 6-20 |
Notice that this is just the first few books of the
Bible and all the miracles which are in these books are not
listed. It seems funny that a God that could create this planet
and everything in it, cannot get a little credit for saving the
lives of the people on that plane shown above. Why are people so
afraid of acknowledging that God has everything under control.
Even in the New Testament God's plan
was in effect, which included "Miracles". First the birth of our
Savior was a virgin birth. Now I don't know about you, but I
have never met a woman that had a virgin birth. So can we all
agree that this was not just weird, but a true miracle
controlled by the power of "God".
After this amazing birth the child grows up and then has many years
of performing miracles. I would love to list all the miracles,
but I am afraid of getting "carpal tunnel syndrome", but they
are listed in the best resource ever published "The
Bible"; Straight from the mouth of God.
The point I am trying to make, is that yes there are many caring
people out there. Example are firemen, police, border patrol,
EMT's, and yes even pilots, who assist in helping and even
saving lives, but is God using these people as his instruments
or are these people so powerful that they don't need God's help.
I truly doubt they would tell us that during these situations
they haven't felt that some force which seemed to be helping them.
We all have had some crazy situations arise that we could state
that is seemed some force was helping us. Could this force by
chance have been the force of God?
Thank God that he does have people like pilots,
firemen, police, EMT, doctors, nurses, military personnel, and you, which he uses as
his instruments; And if you are an instrument of God, being
used to help, save, assist, or to just talk to someone in
distress, acknowledge that God can perform MIRACLES using you.
If God could use Balaam's mule (Number 22: 21-35) in the
process of performing a miracle, he can surely use you.
I know we can sometimes be stubborn as mules, but God works
that out too.
I will leave you with one final thought: Those situations, accidents, mishaps, etc; Can
it be possible that God brought you through these situations you
sometimes call luck and/or miracles?
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