Christian Education, Providence Church
February, 8th, 2009.
The Nature of Miracles
Problems with Definition:
One of the great problems we have with the theology of miracles is that we do not know how to define it. In the history of theology there have been many definitions given in an attempt to satisfy the Biblical use of the term.
Let me give you three definitions of miracles:
a) Miracle is a direct intervention of God in the world.[1] This definition assumes a God that is rather deistic. It assumes that God does not relate to the world, except for creating it, and then He chooses not to intervene. The problem with this definition is that it does not explain the clear biblical passages that teach us that God is constantly intervening in creation. In Matthew 5:45, God causes the rain to fall and Hebrews 1:3 teaches us that He is upholding or carrying along all things by the word of His power. God is directly involved in everything that happens.[2]
b) A miracle is God’s working in the world without using means to bring about the results He wishes. If a miracle is defined by something that God does without using means, then we have very few miracles in the Bible. God uses “means” or what the Westminster Confession of Faith calls “secondary causes,” to perform miracles. For instance, when Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, He did not simply create loaves and fishes out of thin air or ex nihilo (out of nothing), rather He used the “original five loaves and two fishes that were there. When He changed water into wine in John 2, He used water and made it become wine.”[3]
c) A miracle is when God acts contrary to the laws of nature. The problem with this definition is that when you think of the laws of nature,[4] you get the impression that they operate independently of God, so that God has to intervene or break these laws in order to perform a miracle.[5] Again there is a similar problem here. The Bible assumes a God that is sovereign over everything. He doesn’t have to break any law, because all the laws of nature are under His direct control. As John Frame says: “God is free to work either through or outside these natural laws.”[6]
There are also different definitions within our Reformed tradition,[7] but the definition that seems to be most Biblical is: “Miracles are extraordinary manifestations of God’s covenant Lordship.”[8] Miracles take place to draw our attention to three ideas: a) God’s control over all things, b) God’s authority over all things and c) God’s presence.
Let me explain these three terms:[9]
a) When we say that miracles draw our attention to God’s control, I am speaking about his power and mighty acts. This goes back to the idea of God’s omnipotence. Throughout the Bible we find examples of people speaking of this great power, even in song. When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, they sang: “Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.[10] The people of Israel saw God do great and mighty things and they were confident that these mighty works would terrify their enemies. So when you see the people of God singing about something He has done in the Psalms or anywhere else in the Bible that is a miracle. That miracle attests to God’s control over all things. The first thing to consider when speaking of miracles is that miracles testify to God’s mighty works.
b) When we say that miracles draw our attention to God’s authority, I am speaking about signs. Signs are a revelation. When God manifests His Covenant Lordship, this is a miracle. For instance, in Deuteronomy 3:24 we read: “O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?”[11] So, miracles not only accomplish great things, but also display God to us.[12] Miracles are signs or a revelation of who God is. God is interested in revealing Himself to us. When God says in Joel 2 that “he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster,” He revealing something about Himself to us, and that is a miracle according to the Scriptures. In the gospel of John, we see that Jesus does many miraculous signs. What does that teach us about Him? It teaches us that by believing in Him we will have eternal life.[13] So miracles are much more than spectacular works like dividing the Red Sea, they are also refer to God’s revelation of Himself. In essence, they reveal His character. Continue reading “The Nature of Miracles, part 1”