Miracles vs. Providence

Bob

Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

A miracle is when God works outside of His creation laws. For example, making wine from grapes is a natural process (fermentation). But Jesus turning water into wine was a miracle to demonstrate His divinity. A miracle is an unexpected outpouring of God’s power that defies ordinary explanation and that occurs outside the bounds of natural order. A miracle is an event that is:

  1. Decidedly supernatural
  2. Cannot be explained away by a skeptic

News Flash! Providence is the primary way that God works on our behalf. Instead of healing you miraculously, God may choose to guide the hand of your surgeon. You may rightly believe that God was involved with your event because the chain of events was just too far beyond coincidence, or a clear answer to your prayers, etc. But a skeptic could reasonably argue that it was simply due to chance or good luck.

The story of Joseph in Genesis and the Book of Esther are prime examples of God's Providence. In each case, God saved the entire Jewish nation through a series of seemingly ordinary events that added up to an extraordinary outcome! Providence appears in many other places in the Bible. Providence is where God does a miracle(s), but afterwards covers up all His footprints and wipes away all His fingerprints.

Why Providence? - The crowds began following Jesus not because of His teachings or who He was, but out of selfish motives and an entitlement mentality.

John 6:26, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for Me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill”

Human nature hasn't changed in 2,000 years. Our default setting is still to seek the gift rather than the Gift-Giver. Is this why God prefers to work behind the scenes through Providence rather than through Miracles?

  • Do you recognize God's Providence upon your life?
  • Have you thanked Him for it?
  • Is your primary focus on the Gift or the Gift-Giver?