God's Miracles
Often, just to stir up thoughts and inspirations on a particular topic, it's helpful to open an internet search of the New King James Version (NKJV) Bible just to find out how often the topical word appears. In support of this essay, the Hebrew term for “miracle” appeared, astonishingly, a mere 3 times in the Old Testament (OT) and just 14 times in the New Testament (NT).
This could lead one to believe that while many miracles were observed, believed, and accurately described, the term “miracle” was not used in their recorded testimony. Or possibly, the NKJV descriptive translations didn't exactly fit our modern day definition of the word “miracle.”
Have I confused you? Hopefully not.
Looking for a “less restricted” description, possibly with a more encompassing meaning, I have turned to the less formal, Easy-to-Read Bible. There, the term “miracle” occurred 84 times and thirty-nine times in the OT Testament and forty-five times in the NT.
So, considering those variances, how does a reliable dictionary describe “miracle”?
Known as the “Father of American Scholarship and Education.” Noah Webster was a lexicographer and language reformer who published his dictionary in 1825. Webster's online dictionary describes “miracle” as an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.” That's about as good of a definition anyone could expect from a dictionary. In Fact, at the time of the original publication, Noah Webster's dictionary was the only mainstream one with Biblical references. Webster was a devout Christian who believed that “Education is useless without the Bible.”
His dictionary contained more than 6,000 Bible references. Some of these references, such as the definition of marriage was, “a union exclusively between a man and a woman,” is a meaning current-day publishers and 'scholars' are trying to decimate.
But how many miracles do tried and true biblical scholars list? God has never stopped working miracles, and He still works miracles everyday. Shortly, you'll read a selection of 120 miracles documented in the Bible. Many of which the naysayers try to rationalize or explain away. Most of us would freely concede that contemporary conjurers can appear to change water into wine or a staff into a snake. But can they predict ten plagues and cause their effect to be endured only by certain portions of two populations residing in a kingdom? Of course not!
Can contemporary illusionists cause manna to fall from the heavens, in adequate amounts, to feed a wandering hoard of more than two million Israelites, counting 600,000 men plus women and children? Or repeat that act daily for forty years as needed?
Can modern magicians duplicate or science explain away the “long days” of Joshua and Hezekiah? Literally, the spin, tilt, and rotation of the earth, around our fixated sun, would have had to stop dead. All that without killing all humankind s the physics of kinetic energy stopped would explain.
After pursuing these next 120 verses, which I call the big miracles, we will visit the “small” miracles.
1. God's creation—of the universe, including plants, animals and humans. (Genesis 1-2)
2. Worldwide flood—God caused the destruction of the entire world by a divine flood and the miraculous preservation of 8 righteous people and saving the land-dwelling creatures. (Genesis 7-8)
3. God confused the language at Babel—a world of one language instantly transformed into a world of many languages. (Genesis 11:1-9)
4. Sinful cities destroyed—destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 19:24)
5. Supernatural death—Lot’s wife turned into a “pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:26)
6. Supernatural conception—by a very elderly Sarah and 100 year old Abraham at Gerar. (Genesis 21:1)
7. Elderly nursing mother—Sarah was also able to naturally nurse baby Isaac. (Genesis 21:7)
8. All water turned to blood—after which all fish died, and the river stank. (Exodus 7:14-25
9. Frog plague—god suddenly covered the land of Egypt with frogs, and later supernaturally killed them, leaving them to make Egypt again stink. (Exodus 8:2-14; psalms 78:45; 105:30)
10. Lice plague—all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. (Exodus 8:17-18)
11. Flies—God sent “grievous” swarms of flies upon all the people and houses of Egypt, covering even the ground, except in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites dwelled fly-free. (Exodus 8:20-24)
12. Murrain suddenly killed Egypt's cattle. (Exodus 9:3-6)
13. The sixth plague—the Lord struck Egypt with boils and with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, which were not curable. (Deuteronomy 28:27)
14. Hail with fire and thunder—a warning was given of its coming. (Exodus 9:13-33).
15. Locusts—the plague of locusts, which covered all of Egypt, so that the land was darkened with them (Exodus 10:12-15). The Hebrew name of this insect, Arbeh, points to the “multitudinous” character of this visitation. Warning was given before this plague came. Again, the nearby land of Goshen was spared.
16. Localized deep darkness—the ninth plague of darkness in Egypt (Exodus 10:21) is described as darkness “which may be felt.” It covered “all the land of Egypt,” so that “they saw not one another.” It did not extend to the land of Goshen (verse 23).
17. Death of all first-born—Egyptian people and beasts were struck by an angel of death in a single night. Israelites first-born spared, if blood was painted around their door. (Exodus 11:1-8; 12:29-30)
18. Burning bush—not consumed. (Exodus 3:3)
19. Miraculous Clouds—indicating God’s presence (Exodus 19:9; 29:42-43; 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10; 2 chapter 5:14; Ezekiel 43:4) Also, the pillar of a cloud which led the Israelites in the wilderness and rested on the ark of the covenant. (Exodus 13:21-22; 33:9-10; 40:36)
20. Snake—Aaron's rod changed into a serpent. (Exodus 7:10-12)
21. The Red Sea is divided—at just the right moment; the nation of Israel passes through on dry ground. The sea then violently consumes the Egyptian army. (Exodus 14:21-31)
22. Drinking water fixed—bitter waters of Marah sweetened. (Exodus 15:23-25)
23. Manna—sent daily to feed the Israelites, except on the sabbath. (Exodus 16:14-35)
24. Flowing water—from the rock at Rephidim. (Exodus 17:5-7)
25. Strange fire—Nadab and Abihu consumed for offering a profane fire. (Leviticus 10:1-2)
26. Complainers consumed by fire and destruction stopped as Moses’ prayed. (Numbers 11:1-3)
27. Earth opens—and swallows Korah and his company. (Numbers 16:32-34)
28. Fire—from the Lord consumed men fleeing the earth swallowing Kadesh. (Numbers 16:35-45)
29. Plague—at Kadesh almost instantly killing 14,000, and stopped by Moses command Aaron to run with a incense censer among the people and “make an atonement for them”. (Numbers 16:46-50)
30. Aaron’s rod—brought forth buds, bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. (Numbers 17:1-11)
31. Water provided—from a rock smitten twice by Moses, in the desert of Zin. (Numbers 20:7-11)
32. The Lord—sent fiery serpents to bite people, and many people of Israel died. (Numbers 21:6)
33. Brass serpent on a pole in the desert—if a serpent had bitten any man when he held the serpent of brass, he lived. (Numbers 21:8-9)
34. Jordan divided—so Israel passed over near the city of Adam, near Zaretan. (Joshua 3:14-17)
35. The walls of Jericho fell—at God’s command, after the Israelites proved their faith. (Joshua 6:6-20)
36. The sun and moon stayed motionless for a longer day—to enable the Israelites to win a crucial battle. (Joshua 10:12-14) Can scientists explain the “long days” of Joshua and Hezekiah?
37. Mega hailstorm destroys the Amorite army in a battle with Joshua (Joshua 10:12-14)
38. Balaam's donkey protects and speaks—an angel is dispatched against Balaam to express God’s anger. Balaam’s donkey repeatedly protected him and ultimately spoke to Balaam. (Numbers 22:21-35)
39. Samson’s strength—he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat (Judges 14-16)
40. Water—from a hollow place “that is in Lehi.” (Judges 15:19)
41. Idol supernaturally falls—Dagon falls twice before the ark of the covenant. (1 Samuel 5:2-4)
42. Disease—But the hand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumors, (1 Samuel 5:6-7)
43. Supernatural death—Beth-Shemesh men killed for looking into the Covenant Ark. (1 Samuel 6:19)
44. Supernatural thunderstorm—causes a panic among the philistines at Ebeneezer. (1 Samuel 7:10-12)
45. The Lord sent thunder and rain—to ruin the harvest. (1 Samuel 12:18)
46. Supernatural sound—“the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees” as a supernatural sign to attack the philistines with God’s help at Rephaim. (2 Samuel 5:23-25)
47. Supernatural death—Uzzah smitten for touching the ark at Perez-Uzzah. (2 Samuel 6:6, 7)
48. Disease and healing—Jeroboam's hand instantly withered and then restored. (1 Kings 13:4-6)
49. Pagan altar destroyed—Jeroboam's new altar supernaturally destroyed at Bethel. (1 Kings 13:4-6
50. A prophet was killed—by a lion immediately after disobeying God’s command. (1 Kings 13:1-26).
51. Widow’s food and oil—a widow of Zarephath's meal and oil increased. (1 Kings 17:14-16)
52. Resurrection—widow’s son raised from the dead. (1 Kings 17:17-24)
53. Drought in response to Elijah's prayers. (1 Kings 17-18)
54. Supernatural fire—in response to Elijah's prayers. (1 Kings 18:19-39)
55. Rain—in clear response to prophet Elijah's prayers. (1 Kings 18:41-45)
56. Ravens deliver food—prophet Elijah fed by ravens. (1 Kings 17-18)
57. Fire from heaven—Ahaziah's captains consumed by heaven's fire near Samaria. (2 Kings 1:10-12)
58. River divided—Jordan divided by Elijah and Elisha near Jericho. (2 Kings 2:7, 8, 14)
59. Supernatural transport—Elijah carried up into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11)
60. Waters of Jericho—healed by Elisha's casting salt into them. (2 Kings 2:21, 22)
61. Death by bears—Two bears miraculously destroy 42 “young men” immediately after they mocked the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 2:24)
62. Water—provided for Jehoshaphat's army. (2 Kings 3:16-20)—“ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.”
63. Widow’s oil— multiplied so she could pay her debts. (2 Kings 4:2-7)
64. Resurrection—the Shunammite's son given, and raised from the dead at Shunem. (2 Kings 4:32-37)
65. Poison reversed—the deadly food was cured with a mere meal at Gilgal. (2 Kings 4:38-41)
66. Hundred men fed with 20 barley loaves and ears of corn at Gilgal. (2 Kings 4:42-44)
67. Healed or not—Naaman instantly cured of leprosy and Gehazi instantly afflicted. (2 Kings 5:10-27)
68. Iron ax—a iron ax-head was made to swim in the river Jordan. (2 Kings 6:5-7)
69. Mind-reading prophecies—Ben Hadad's secret plans discovered. Hazael’s thoughts, etc., through the prophecies of Elijah. (2 Kings 6:12)
70. Instant blindness—Syrian army smitten with blindness at Dothan. (2 Kings 6:18)
71. Healing—the Syrian army was healed of blindness at Samaria. (2 Kings 6:20)
72. Resurrection—Elisha's bones revive the dead. (2 Kings 13:21)
73. Mass death—Sennacherib's Assyrian army of 5,180 soldiers killed by an angel. (2 Kings 19:35)
74. Sun's shadow—moves backward ten degrees on the sun-dial of Ahaz, Jerusalem. (2 Kings 20:9-11)
75. Instant disease—King Uzziah instantly struck with leprosy, Jerusalem. (2 chronicles 26:16-21)
76. Protection in blazing fire—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego delivered from the fiery furnace in Babylon. (Daniel 3:10-27)
77. Protection from hungry lions—Daniel saved from hungry lions in a sealed den. (Daniel 6:16-23) / those who falsely accused Daniel were then thrown to the same lions, who killed them. (Daniel 6:24)
78. Jonah—survived in the fish’s belly and safely landed. (Jonah 2:1-10) How could any person survive in the belly of a big fish for three days?
79. Gideon’s fleece—wet when it shouldn’t be, and dry when it shouldn’t be. (Judges 6:37-40)
80. Miraculous conception—Of the virgin Mary, and without the sperm of a male parent. (Matthew 1:18)
81. Star of Bethlehem—a star appears to lead the wise men to young Christ. (Matthew 2:1–12)
82. Healing—two blind men. (Matthew 9:27-31)
83. Money—needed tax/tribute money miraculously provided in a randomly caught fish’s mouth, as promised by Jesus Christ. (Matthew 17:24-27)
84. Healing—deaf and dumb man healed. (Mark 7:31-37)
85. Healing—blind man of Bethsaida. (Mark 8:22-26)
86. Jesus—passes unseen through hostile crowd attempting his murder. (Luke 4:28-30)
87. Fish—the miraculous deluge of fish caught in the nets after blanking all night. (Luke 5:5-6)
88. Resurrection—the raising of the widow’s son. (Luke 7:11-18)
89. Healing—woman with the spirit of infirmity. (Luke 13:11-17)
90. Healing—man with the dropsy. (Luke 14:1-6)
91. Healing—ten lepers. (Luke 17:11-19)
92. Healing—Where a disciple struck Malchus, a servant of the high priest, with a sword and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” He touched his ear and healed him. (Luke 22:50-51)
93. Water—turned to wine. (John 2:1-11)
94. Healing—cure of nobleman’s son, Capernaum. (John 4:46-54)
95. Healing—impotent man at Bethesda healed. (John 5:1-9)
96. Healing—man born blind healed. (John 9:1-7)
97. Resurrection—Lazarus raised from the dead. (John 11:38-44)
98. Fish—draught of fishes instantly caught at Christ's instruction. (John 21:1-14)
99. Healing—Syrophoenician woman’s daughter healed. (Matthew 15:28; Mark 7:24)
100. Loaves and fishes—4,000 fed from 7 loaves and a few little fishes. (Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:1)
101. Fig tree—was destroyed as unworthy or not useful. (Matthew 21:18; Mark 11:12)
102. Healing—a centurion’s servant was healed by Jesus remotely. (Matthew 8:5; Luke 7:1)
103. Healing and exorcism—blind and dumb demoniac cured. (Matthew 12:22; Luke 11:14)
104. Exorcism—demoniac cured in synagogue at Capernaum. (Mark 1:23; Luke 4:33)
105. Healing—Peter’s wife’s mother healed. (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38)
106. Storm—a sea storm was stilled by God's command. (Matthew 8:23; Mark 4:37; Luke 8:22)
107. Exorcism—demons of Gergesenes cast out of men. (Matthew 8:28; Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26)
108. Swine suicide—about 2,000 swine rush into the water and drown after Christ allowed demons to transfer to them. (Mark 5:1-20)
109. Healing—leper (Matthew 8:2; Mark 1:40; Luke 5:12)
110. Resurrection—Jairus' daughter raised (Matthew 9:23; Mark 5:23; Luke 8:41)
111. Healing—woman’s issue of blood healed (Matthew 9:20; Mark 5:25; Luke 8:43)
112. Healing—man sick of the palsy healed (Matthew 9:2; Mark 2:3; Luke 5:18)
113. Healing—man’s withered hand healed (Matthew 12:10; Mark 3:1; Luke 6:6)
114. Healing—lunatic child healed (Matthew 17:14; Mark 9:14; Luke 9:37)
115. Healing—Two blind men instantly healed (Matthew 20:29; Mark 10:46; Luke 18:35)
116. Jesus—walks on top of the sea (Matthew 14:25; Mark 6:48; John 6:15)
117. Food—Jesus feeds 5,000 “in a desert place” (Matthew 14:15; Mark 6:30; Luke 9:10; John 6:1-14)
118. Moses and Elijah—appear before the transfiguration of Jesus Christ alone. (Matthew 17:1-8)
119. Resurrection—of Jesus Christ, after being declared dead and buried by Romans. (John 21:1-14)
120. Ascension—Jesus Christ rises to heaven. (Luke 2:42-51)
Now for a discussion of what I've chosen to categorize as “Little Miracles.” Imperceptible miracles surround us every day of our lives. It is likely that unseen, untold, uncountable numbers of these minor miracles go unrecognized daily. How could you know that when you were going shopping this morning and had to pause to find you car keys that those mere seconds of delay protected you from a serious vehicle accident? Events similar to that are orchestrated by our Guardian Angels throughout our lives.
Did you know almost all the cells in our bodies are replaced either in a few days or every 3 or 4 months? Unfortunately, fat cells are the most durable—lasting 8 to 10 years before being replaced, and doesn't it seem that too many more fat cells are often added extra? But seriously, isn't all that and more representative of the little miracles that happen all the time?
Individually, why don't we take a few moments and share some miracles, big or little, that we have experienced or seen first hand when that happened to someone else?
The origin of this lesson grew from the smallest of mundane happenings. First you need my back story, which may bore you but it is necessary to frame the event and the small miracle it produced. The roof leak over our kitchen stove exhaust vent produced a considerable mess every time it rained. Our stove top was too frequently inundated with rainwater. It was so bad that even days after a rainstorm, when the exhaust fan was turned on, a sizable amount of water spewed out and splattered everywhere.
At seventy-five years of age, with a large dose of apprehensiveness, I looked at climbing up the ladder to the sharp-sloped roof while grasping a spray can of Flex seal in one hand and a short rope in the other. But up I went. In trepidation I climbed over the ladder and cautiously crawled onto the roof.
Did I already mention the roof was very steep on this side? You betcha!
After several perilous attempts of throwing the rope as a lasso, I finally looped a small pipe protruding up through the shingles to support and balance myself as I crab-crawled 15 feet upwards to the errant exhaust vent. Moving ever so gingerly, because every movement wanted to cause me to slip and slide down, I sprayed the Flex seal solution all around the vent.
For those of you that have never done it, would you guess coming down from the roof and ladder feels even more hazardous than climbing up? It does, times ten!
Yes, I had prayed to Jesus that I wouldn't fall and I didn't but that's not what caused me to write this essay.
Well, when the next rain came it was obvious that my effort came to no gain. Yep, water all over the stove again. Like most men, I waited another month or two before trying the same procedure again. The previous fears and trepidation were not mitigated just because I had done this once before. If anything it was scarier on the second try.
But when the next rain came—guess what? Was the leak totally fixed? In truth, no way! So, once again like most men, I said “the heck with it!” and placed a deep plastic bin on the stove when rain was expected. Hey, that worked for me, but my wife was not as content. Every time it rained, we had the bin to empty, and water splatters to clean up. Oh, yeah! I wasn't feeling too safe about electricity mixing with rainwater trapped in the fan's motor casing for days afterward either. Time after rainy days and nights, again and again with the leak.
It seemed impossible to get a roofer willing to do such a small job. But I did not intend to go up on the roof again. Why, you might ask? Well at this point I was months and months older plus wiser. Right?
Then one night after sharing my prayers with God, I had a random thought. Since I knew a rainstorm was forecast, I said, in my mind, “Say, God, if you get a little free time on Your hands—would you please fix my leak? Even then, I considered my unspoken thoughts as merely amusing.
The next day, after the rain storm, pools of water lay stagnant in spots across the backyard. I went to empty the plastic bin on the stove-top. Noway! Lo and behold, to my amazement not a single drop had leaked down from the vent. Flabbergasted, I looked again towards the backyard and saw that even a small lake had collected behind our fence on the neighbor's side.
Now, you tell me. What do you think about all that? I truly feel I experienced a blessed moment. I can not venture to guess what kind of a natural, physical manifestation could have plugged the leak? I only hope it was a permanent fix. I lay the result of this Little Miracle at the hand of God, nudged ever so slightly along by my little prayer.
Folks, the precise placement of the earth to the sun, the moon, and all the other planets in our immediate solar system is the result of thousands upon thousands of God's miracles. As is every breath we take, every blade of grass that grows, and everything God constantly provides for our continuous well being. And all of this and more was put in place instantaneously—by God's miraculous spoken words.
Second Peter describes and or predicts several “happenings” often not thought of as miracles of God. Here, from an easy to read Bible version are his hallowed words.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot, and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
What—may I ask you, what greater miracle could God shower upon us than His ever-enduing, everlasting, ever-forgiving grace. Especially, when you consider the many flaws we all exhibit?
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
The End
Please, if you think someone else might benefit from reading this send it to them by email or email me their address and I will forward this essay to them anonymously. Rest assured, I do not solicit anyone. For more my free books, please go to www.smashwords.com/interview/DennisDKing. Please feel free to contact me, Dennis King, at DoJ@mail.com if you have questions, comments, corrections, or just wish to share your troubles or testimonies.
