There is serious doubt that we understand miracles. Remarkable human events are often termed miracles, when in fact they are natural, but appearing so few times in the context of mankind that they are labeled miracles. So marvelous they seem like miracles. No genuine miracle can be accounted for in human or natural (person or nature generated) terms – as noted in other Pages. Those following these Pages on this theme know that my view is that nearly all matters in the experience of mankind may be accounted for in nature’s terms (man or nature ordered, usually explained in orderly or scientific evaluation); in providential terms (God directly influencing mankind’s conduct and nature’s forces in accomplishing purpose); and, miracle terms (God acting mysteriously without any necessary utilization of natural cause). Healing through the efficiency of medicine and doctors is understood in nature (physical). For nature to be used by God in cooperation with human effort is the pattern for nearly all prayers. Both medicine and God are accounted as causes (providential). For Moses to part the Red Sea; for Elijah to call down fire; for Jesus to heal the blind man – are all miracles, palpable to the senses, but unexplained by any natural means. They are divine mystery. If one wants to be picky about the point, all three areas have factors of miracle in them from providential action increasing as one goes along until whole miracle has dropped all forms of natural cause. God put healing qualities in the elements of the earth to begin the story. Our search for knowledge uncovered hidden benefit. When that benefit is explained, there is providence not miracle in our meaning here. Medication processes become natural (built into the system). The unusual supported by evidence of likely cause is presumed to be natural in God’s ordered world, and should not be evaluated as miracle.
The point for this Page is that likely there are miracles in virtually every life. They are commonly unrecognized. When miracles become the point in context, the miracle purpose may be lost. Pharaoh wanted to see a miracle from Moses, and was not much interested in God who would give it. Herod wanted to see a miracle from Jesus, and did not care about God, who would give it. Generally we are much like Pharaoh and Herod. Even Dives asked that a messenger from hell be sent to warn his brother about sinful life. He was informed that the brother would not respond to miracle. During eras in history miracles have occurred to help in transition but they were distorted. As noted elsewhere, Jesus tended away from miracles in his late ministries before the crucifixion. But, a number of miracles occurred during the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry. We may miss them – as when nearly all persons pass over the miracle of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on an unbroken colt – without being unseated. I catch the tiny miracle of grooming when Jesus appeared to Mary on the first Easter morning. He had risen from the grave (major miracle); had left the grave clothes collapsed (unwound as a tiny miracle), in the open tomb (tiny miracle); appeared to Mary from nowhere (major miracle); and, was fully dressed (tiny miracle). We know he was because she took him, at first glance, to be the gardener. Were he enveloped in light of some glory, she would not have presumed a gardener. If he were unclothed, she would have fled, and responded differently than she did. Out of nowhere appeared the clothing worn by the risen Lord, who had left burial wrappings for Peter and John to mull over. Such tiny miracle stories are multiplied throughout history. What is the purpose of this short review? Each of us, perhaps without our knowledge has experienced tiny miracles in our lives. Many have touched me. One in Seattle saved the lives of my family (my eldest children remember it); and others defied the good counsel of physicians; and, so my story can be extended. Approaching a crest of a hill in Wyoming, and sleepy-headed so riding the center line I immediately encountered a trailer truck, with the driver also riding the center line. We barely missed each other, and it wasn’t any personal skill that saved us. The providences of God, which may be tiny miracles of life, occur often. Only now and then are they revealed. They appear often in Scripture. God loves and cares for us. The problem is ours that we miss the care of God in the ordinary life. God is aware, and understands natural skepticism, but some limitations do not deter him. His care is enlarged when we believe that he will respond to us for good whether it is through nature, providence, or miracles. He does not have to prove himself to us, but we to him. We need faith to believe and act accordingly. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020