Now, if you found yourself at the edge of a large body of water with a bunch of nasty and highly irritated enemies bearing down on you from the rear, you'd probably be one of the first to admit that things were looking rather bleak for your continued good health, wouldn't you? As a matter of fact, the likelihood is that you'd be looking around for some kind of divine intervention. And, that sea all of the sudden dividing right before you would not only be a sight for your sore eyes, it would also be music to your ears, a spring for your step and a song in your heart.
Certainly, miracles are not particularly difficult to identify. By very definition - that is, an occurrence which would not be expected to take place under any conceivably foreseen 'normal' circumstances - the impetus for such events is considered to be outside of and beyond the realm of our natural existence. In plain-speak, they're divinely inspired, wholly residing within the purview of the supernatural. They're eye-opening and attention-getting, most often for the fact that they are in some way regarded as 'spectacular' by one of more of our physical senses.
For instance, the Lord Jesus - on two separate occasions and with little more than a supersized Happy Meal - literally fed thousands of people until they were all lying around burping and picking their teeth (Mark 6:38-44, 8:5-9). People who had suffered for decades were instantly cured of all kinds of diseases and evil spirits. He raised dead folks back to life. Pretty eye-popping events all, and I think it's safe to say that if any of us witnessed such goings on today, we'd have absolutely no trouble categorizing them squarely in the "Miracle" column. Undoubtedly, that's why they're called 'signs and wonders.'
But, are 'miracles' the only happenings that arise from the spirit realm? Does an issue really have to be 'spectacular' to our eyes or ears before we're willing to attribute its cause to the supernatural? If a matter can be 'explained' by natural circumstances or means, does that automatically disqualify it from being considered spiritually provoked? I hardly think so. Psalm 103:19 makes it quite clear that, although God's throne sits in the heavenly territories, His Kingdom nevertheless has dominion, reigns, bears rule, and exercises influence and power over all - that is, everything, everywhere. Indeed, God took great strides to drive this point home to King Nebuchadnezzar, sending word and warning him three separate times (remember, in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word is established as valid and true [Deuteronomy 19:15; 2 Corinthians 13:1]) that "the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and He gives [it] to whomever He wills" - and even sending once more, for good measure, to his son Belshazzar! (Daniel 4:17, 25, 32; 5:21)
One of the things we as God's people seem to struggle with and forget most easily is that the Lord's hand doesn't always have to show itself as a 'spectacular' event. As a matter of fact, on a day-to-day basis, things usually don't manifest that way. But that doesn't mean the Word of God's power isn't still operating just as efficiently as when, at His command, the Red Sea made room for Israel to walk through it (Exodus 14:29; Hebrews 1:3). As long as we stay in faith (both with word and deed) for the promises He's given us and walk in love, we have an assurance that things are happening on our behalf (Psalm 103:20; Hebrews 1:14; 2 Peter 1:19).
Whether big things or small, 'explainable' or mind-boggling, miraculous or just everyday little flashes of the Father's lovingkindness and favor, we have the luxury and advantage of knowing that all things are working [in concert] together for our good, because we love the Lord and have answered the call for His purposes (Romans 8:28). Remember, all good, and every good thing, originate from God above, whether we immediately recognize it's from Him or not (Mark 10:18; James 1:17).
Walking After Emptiness
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