Miracles, nature of

Miracles may be performed directly by God or through a human agent. Those recorded in Scripture include healing, raising the dead, miracles of nature and the casting out of demons.

Miracles demonstrate God's greatness and power

Psalm 77:14 See also Exodus 14:30–31, Exodus 34:10; Deuteronomy 3:24; 1 Kings 18:37–39; Job 5:9; Psalm 78:4; Luke 9:42–43

You are the God who works wonders; You display Your strength among the peoples.

Miracles bringing God's judgment

Leviticus 10:1–2 See also Genesis 19:24–26; Numbers 12:10, Numbers 16:31–35; 1 Kings 13:4–5; 2 Kings 1:9–12; 2 Chronicles 26:19–20; Acts 5:5, Acts 5:10, Acts 13:11

Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.

Miracles which meet human need

The provision of food and water

Exodus 17:6 See also Exodus 15:25; Numbers 11:31–32, Numbers 20:10–11; Judges 15:18–19; 1 Kings 17:5–6, 1 Kings 17:8–16; 2 Kings 2:19–22, 2 Kings 4:42–44; Matthew 14:15–21; Mark 8:1–10

Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Healing

Acts 5:16 See also Numbers 21:6–9; 2 Kings 5:1–14; Luke 9:6; Acts 3:1–10, Acts 9:33–34, Acts 28:7–9

Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.

Exorcism

Acts 16:18 See also Mark 6:13, Mark 9:38 parallel Luke 9:49; Luke 10:17; Acts 8:7

She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.

The raising of the dead

John 11:38–44 See also 1 Kings 17:17–24; 2 Kings 4:32–37, 2 Kings 13:21; Acts 9:36–41, Acts 20:9–12

Jesus, once again deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” Jesus said. “Lord, by now he stinks,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man. “It has already been four days.” Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, so they may believe that You sent Me.” After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth. “Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them.

Miraculous births

Genesis 18:10–14 See also Judges 13:2–3; 1 Samuel 1:20; 2 Kings 4:14–17; Luke 1:34–37

Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent. And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you — in about a year — and Sarah will have a son.”

Miracles involving military victory

2 Chronicles 32:21 parallels 2 Kings 19:35–36, Isaiah 37:36–37 See also Exodus 12:29–36, Exodus 14:26–28; Joshua 10:12–14; 1 Samuel 7:10–12; 2 Kings 6:18–23; 2 Chronicles 20:22–26

and the LORD sent an angel who annihilated every mighty man of valor and every leader and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword.

Miraculous help in trouble

Daniel 6:27 See also Psalm 91:11–12; Daniel 3:19–27, Daniel 6:19–23; Matthew 8:23–27 parallels Mark 4:36–41, Luke 8:22–25; Acts 12:6–11, Acts 16:25–26

He delivers and rescues; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Gifts of supernatural strength

Judges 14:5–6 See also Judges 14:19, Judges 15:14–16, Judges 16:26–30; 1 Kings 18:46

Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him, and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.

Nature miracles

2 Kings 2:7–8 See also Exodus 10:13–23, Exodus 14:15–22; Joshua 3:14–17; 2 Kings 2:13–14; Matthew 21:18–22 parallels Mark 11:12–14, Mark 11:20–24; John 2:1–11

Then a company of fifty of the sons of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing Elijah and Elisha as the two of them stood by the Jordan. And Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and to the left, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

Miracles are part of God's plan of redemption

2 Samuel 7:23 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:21 See also Mark 16:17–18; Acts 2:22–24, Acts 14:3; Hebrews 2:3–4

And who is like Your people Israel — the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself and to make a name for Himself? You performed great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt.

Miracles occur at times of special significance

At the time of the exodus

Exodus 3:2–3, Exodus 7:3–4, Exodus 16:11–15, Exodus 17:6–7; Numbers 17:8; Deuteronomy 4:34

At times of national religious crisis

1 Kings 18:30–39; 2 Kings 3:16–25, 2 Kings 4:3–7, 2 Kings 4:40–41, 2 Kings 6:5–7

In the time of Jesus Christ

Matthew 14:15–21 parallels Mark 6:35–44, Luke 9:12–17, John 6:5–13; Matthew 20:29–34 parallels Mark 10:46–52, Luke 18:35–43; John 11:38–44

In the time of the first Christians

Luke 10:17; Acts 8:6, Acts 8:13, Acts 14:8–10, Acts 14:19–20, Acts 19:11–12

Miracles are God's gift

They authenticate the message of his servants

John 10:38 See also Exodus 4:30–31; Matthew 11:2–5 parallel Luke 7:20–22; Mark 9:39, Mark 16:20; John 14:11; 2 Corinthians 12:12

But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.”

They are given by God's sovereign will

1 Corinthians 12:8–11 See also Matthew 10:1 parallel Luke 9:1; 1 Corinthians 12:28–30; Galatians 3:5

To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.

Miracles are not in themselves proof of God's work

They are no guarantee of genuine faith

Matthew 7:22–23 See also Luke 16:27–31; John 2:23–24; 1 Corinthians 13:1–2

Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’

They can be counterfeited

Matthew 24:24 See also Exodus 7:11–12, Exodus 7:22, Exodus 8:7; Acts 8:9–11; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:13, Revelation 16:14, Revelation 19:20

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.