“But lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.”
(Exodus 14:16)
The Old Testament is filled with occasions where God demonstrated His power through miracles. There’s the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah when they were well beyond childbearing years, the relentless plagues that paved the way for Israel’s exodus from Egypt, their crossing of the Red Sea on dry ground, and the subsequent drowning of Pharaoh’s entire army in the same waters—just to name a few.
The New Testament further records the miraculous: the virgin birth of Christ, the raising of Lazarus from the grave, the feeding of the multitude with one boy’s lunch, the conversion of Saul, and most wondrous of all—the resurrection and ascension of our Lord.
These many examples show us that the power to perform miracles—to arrest the course of nature and turn it completely above its own predisposition—can only be attributed to the Almighty Arm of the Creator Himself. No lesser power, neither men nor angels, in heaven or on earth, can complete such feats by their own might.
Yet, how is it that Moses used his rod to part the Red Sea and afterwards struck the rock to make water flow? How did Joshua stop the sun in its course, and Isaiah turn it ten degrees backward? How did Peter heal the lame man at the temple? These supernatural acts were not accomplished by their own power, but by God manifesting His omnipotence through them. They were merely instruments in His hands, wielded at His divine command.
Only through effectual prayer and commanding faith were these men given opportunities to be instrumental in the manifestation of divine miracles, for God alone is the immediate and essential cause of all miraculous works. “Things that are in this way truly and properly miraculous, are peculiarly works of God; neither can it be imagined, that since he has been pleased to justify his commands, ways, and messages, by such mighty Acts, (2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:4; John 10:38), and also hath been put to it, to justify himself and his sole Supreme being and Godhead; from false competitors, (Ps. 86:10, 72:18), by his miraculous works: it cannot be imagined, I say, that he would permit any created Being, (much less Satan) to do such things.”[1]
People often refer to certain events—like the birth of a child or the rescue of a family from disaster—as miracles. These are indeed wonders of divine providence, but they are not miracles in the biblical sense, as they are not contrary to the course of natural law. True miracles are those that defy all natural explanation, testifying directly to God’s power.
Further, the power to perform miracles is never given to men apart from God’s sovereign purpose. Throughout Scripture, miracles serve as confirmations of God’s message, His authority, and His redemptive plan. They exist to bring glory to Him, to prove His messengers, and to proclaim His truth.
Take time this week to consider the many miracles recorded in Scripture. Let them move you to glorify and adore God more deeply, as you meditate on His power to do the impossible.
Contemplations:
- Holding Fast to God’s Promises. As Abraham glorified God in the miracle of his son’s birth, I must learn to trust in God’s promises, no matter how impossible they may seem. The same God who gave Sarah a child in her old age is the God who holds my future. Do I dishonor Him with my unbelief, when He has proven Himself faithful time and again? His mighty works in Scripture should cause me to stand firm, trusting that His power is the same today as it has always been.
- A Faith That Moves Mountains. Christ said that faith as small as a mustard seed could move mountains. But do I possess such faith? Do I truly believe that my God is able to do all things? My heart is often weak, my prayers often small. Lord, increase my faith! Help me believe, not just in Your ability to work wonders, but in Your willingness to act for the good of those who love You.
- The Miraculous Life of Christ. Everything about Jesus Christ is miraculous—His conception, birth, resurrection, ascension, and enthronement at the right hand of the Father. I live in anticipation of one final miracle: His glorious return. His life is filled with awe, mystery, and majesty. Help me, Lord, continue to contemplate these wonders that I may long for Your coming as I should.
- God’s Miraculous Power Today. The age of miracles in the biblical sense may have passed, but the power of God remains. His providence is no less astounding, His sovereign hand no less mighty. The same God who parted the Red Sea orders my steps today. The same God who raised Lazarus from the grave gives life to my spirit. Do I recognize His power in my life? Do I praise Him for His works, both seen and unseen?
Prayer:
O Lord, God of power and might who stretches forth Your hand to do wonders, I worship You as the One for whom nothing is impossible. You are the God who commands the seas, who shuts the mouths of lions, who raises the dead, and who alone has power over life and death. The heavens declare Your glory, and the miracles You have wrought proclaim Your infinite might. You are not a distant God, but One who works in the affairs of men, who upholds the universe by the word of Your power.
Yet, Lord, I confess my faith is weak. I read of Your wonders, I see the testimony of Your mighty acts, and still I hesitate to trust You fully. I struggle to believe that You will accomplish what You have promised. How often I rely on my own strength when You are the God who commands the winds and the waves! How foolish I am to place confidence in what I can see, when Your invisible hand governs all things. Forgive me, Lord, for my unbelief. Forgive me for failing to rest in Your omnipotence, for being slow to trust in Your divine care.
I thank You, Lord, that You do not change. Your power is the same today as when You parted the Red Sea. You are still the God who works all things for good, who calls the dead to life, and who delivers His people. My hope is not in my faithfulness, but in Yours. My confidence is not in my ability, but in Your infinite power. The same God who spoke the world into being holds me in His hands. I praise You for Your mighty deeds, for the wonders You have performed and for the promises You have given that cannot fail.
Lord, I ask that You would strengthen my faith. Help me believe that You are able. Help me trust that You will do what You have said. When trials come, let me not fear, for You are the God who commands the storm. When doubts arise, let me not falter, for You are the God who holds all things together. When I am weak, remind me that Your power is made perfect in weakness. Teach me to pray with expectation, to trust without wavering, and to live in confidence that You are the God of the impossible.
I long for the day when I will see You face to face, when all will be revealed, and I will stand in the fullness of Your presence. Until then, let me rest in the knowledge that the same God who worked miracles in Scripture is the God who upholds me now. Let my life be a testimony to Your power, and let my lips declare Your mighty works to all who will hear.
In the name of Jesus Christ, the One who conquered death and reigns forever, I pray. Amen.
Further References for Exodus 14:16
Exod. 4:17, 7:19, 14:21; Isa. 10:26; Psa. 106:9
[1] Richard Gilpin, Demonologia Sacra, Or, A Treatise of Satan’s Temptations in Three Parts (London: J.D. for Richard Randal and Peter Maplasden .., 1677), 34.
