Last week we looked at one of the most epic events in all of history: the Red Sea Crossing. We did not cover the last few questions in that set as they comprise a stand alone topic on miracles; so this week we will take a look at what miracles are, and how we know they exist. Skeptics will claim that miracles never happen, and if it seems they do we should be able to scientifically measure and explain them – but is that true?

Are Miracles Possible?

Here is the presentation from our previous Case for Creation Class on the topic of “Miracles.” Overview notes follow below:

Overview notes from the presentation and final class questions on the topic of miracles

Here are the final questions from last week’s Bible study review (from chapters 13-15):

Define the meaning of the word miracle. How do we view miracles in the Bible – do they have a specific purpose or are they just random acts of God’s power?
Apologetics’ Question: How can we answer people who say: Why do we not see God perform miracles, like He does in the Bible, today?
Going Even Deeper: How does secular science view miracles, and how can Christians respond to that view?

Notes to help answer these questions

What Are Miracles?

A miracle is something which would never have happened had nature, as it were, been left to its own devices. -Antony Flew (former atheist)

A dictionary definition for the word miracle:

“A surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.”

Miracles vs. Natural Law

Miracles can be described as:

Special acts of God that interrupt the normal course of events.

In contrast, natural laws are laws that have been instituted by the Creator and the Creator can manipulate these laws to point His Creation towards Him and His purpose.
Natural laws are only descriptive of what God has set in motion, not prescriptive of what must always happen.
Natural laws describe what happens regularly by means of natural causes, whereas miracles describe what happens rarely by means of supernatural causes.

**If God exists, miracles ARE possible**

Evidence for the existence of God is overwhelming based on evidence from the following categories:

Philosophy
Cosmology
Teleology
Moral law
If, from evidence in these areas we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that God exists, then miracles are possible – and we have done that in this class (A Case for Creation)!

Miracles Are Evidence of God’s Existence!

If we admit God, must we admit Miracle? Indeed, indeed, you have no security against it. That is the bargain.

-C.S. Lewis

What is and what is not a miracle?

Unique and unusual events can be classified as follows:

Anomalies: These are freaks of nature. They come from nature’s power and are natural events with a pattern. Example: Bumblebee’s ability to fly. Their wings are too small for the size of their bodies yet scientists have found that their bodies are designed with a type of power packs.
Magic: these are sleights of hand. They come from human power and are human controlled. Example: A rabbit appearing out of a hat, a card trick or the escape artist.
Psychosomatic: This is mind over matter. It comes from our own mental abilities and require only belief. It is human controlled and fails often. Example: Psychosomatic illnesses or cures.
Satanic signs: These are evil powers from the supernatural realm. They are limited powers and come in partial truths usually from the occult. Example: Demonic possession or influence.
What is and what is not a miracle?
Providence: These are prearranged events or interventions by God. They have divine power and a spiritual context but can be explained naturally. Example: Fog at Normandy or missing the plane that ends up crashing.
Miracles: These are Divine acts that are supernatural occurrences. They happen rarely and are outside the realm of natural explanations. They never fail and they always give glory to God. Example: Raising the dead, parting the sea or walking on water.

(Reference: “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be An Atheist,” by Frank Turek and Norman Geisler)

So, how does secular science view miracles, and how can Christians respond to that view?

Western culture, in general, does not give credence to miracles because of our high view of “science” that teaches strict adherence to “the laws of nature” only, and the observable senses of what we can see, hear, taste, smell and touch.
Christians can respond ”with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15) and with questions from logic, and common sense examples.

We can ask: Where do emotions, motives, intentions, love, joy, morality and even the will come from? These are not tangible things, yet we all believe they exist.

Secular Scientists contradict their own standards by “believing” in theories they cannot directly observe, for example: The theory that all complex life “evolved” from non-life; and the universe, and life itself, came into existence from nothing. These are ideas that cannot be tested.

Science is (was) the pursuit of God and how His Creation works, and we run into God’s truth when science uncovers, not “discovers,” the way things really work – we know this as reality.

If God exists could He communicate with us? If so how?

(This communication itself would be a miracle)

The King’s Seal

In ancient times a King’s Seal (or sign) authenticated their messages.
A Seal (or sign) must be unique, recognizable, and something only the King possesses.
God’s Seal (or sign) of authentication could be found in His ability to control Creation outside the established rules of nature, i.e. miracles.
Miracles can be considered as a Seal (or sign) to confirm an authenticated message from God—we find this message recorded in His Word, the Bible.

There are several ways God has communicated

His Word: Special Revelation (see 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:22-25; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
His Creation: Natural Revelation (see Genesis 1:1; Psalm 19:1-4; Psalm 89:11-12; Romans 1:19-20)
His Son, Jesus: The New Covenant (see Psalm 89:3-4; John 3:16; Hebrews 9:15; 2 Peter 1:16-19)
His Holy Spirit: The Spirit of Truth (see John 14:15-16; John 15:26; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4)

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, you his servants, the descendants of Israel, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.

1 Chronicles 16:11-13

(Jesus speaking) Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

John 10:37-38

From C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape letters:

Screwtape, the senior demon, to his disciple Wormwood: “You must have wondered why the Enemy (God) does not make more use of His power to be sensibly present to human souls in any degree He chooses and at any moment. But you now see that the Irresistible and the Indisputable are the two weapons which the very nature of His scheme forbids Him to use. Merely to over-ride a human will (as His felt presence in any but the faintest and most mitigated degree would certainly do) would be for Him useless. He cannot ravish, he can only woo.”

Going Deeper

Reflection

You can click on the links to review these reflection points from previous posts:

Practice memorizing the twelve “Major Events” of the Old Testament (you can read them or recite them), then repeat by adding in the major players and covenants within the events
Practice memorizing and reciting the seven major “Focus Points” for studying the Old Testament

Bible Study

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us.

Since we have finished studying the book of Exodus and will be running answers to the previous study questions over the next several posts, I recommended going to the book of Hebrews next. If you have been studying with us through Genesis and now Exodus, I think you will find the New Testament book of Hebrews very insightful because you are now in tune to the teachings it refers to when it talks about people and events from these ancient times! A good reading, and some cross-referencing back to these books will help with your depth of understanding as it pertains to the Messiahship and priesthood of Jesus!

Join us next week as we continue A Case for the Old Testament, The History Continues… with review answers for chapters 15:22 – 20 (we didn’t get to those yet)!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15