Miracles by Our Definition

Scripture: "Stranger," Gideon replied, "if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors have told us about—such as when God brought them out of Egypt? Now the Lord has thrown us away and has let the Midianites completely ruin us." Then the Lord turned to him and said, "I will make you strong! Go and save Israel from the Midianites! I am sending you!" But Gideon replied, "Sir, how can I save Israel? My family is the poorest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least thought of in the entire family!" Judges 6:13-15

Observation: Gideon meets the Angel of the Lord, and when the angel says the Lord is with him gives a reply questioning this fact, for God has not done miracles for his generation. However, when the angel says the Lord is about to rescue the people by sending Gideon himself, Gideon questions this, declaring it impossible because his family is the least of the least of Israel.

In other words, Gideon doubted God because of a lack of miracles. However, when the angel told him of what the Lord was about to do, Gideon doubted it because it was impossible ... it would take a miracle! Gideon questioned God due to a lack of miracles, but then rejected the idea of the miracle about to be done.

Application: How often have I asked God for something that would take a miracle, and then when the outcome was complete and the matter remedied, not considered what happened to be a miracle? I have done this at least a few times I am sure. And I have seen others due to over very great matters. In some cases, they prayed to God but then believed the matter was resolved without God. In other cases, they weren't believers in God and thus didn't even ask, yet I know they received a miracle anyway.

Recently, I have been asking God for miracles when it comes to the nature of our society, our country, and the matters that plague it both literally and metaphorically. Some of these may soon be resolved, and these are of God's miracles for certain, and not by human hands.

It is easier to ignore God's work when a matter is improved incrementally - like expelling the Midianites, or developing protection from a virus - rather than a magical flash of a miracle. Incremental changes, lead by people, don't always meet our definition of a miracle.

Much of what we need will be improved incrementally, perhaps over years. I know I will look back someday and know it was done by a miracle of the Lord, since it cannot be done any other way.

Prayer: Lord, again today I pray for a change in the trajectory of mankind. We are in a time of continual fear and anger, with cultural and racial wars abounding. Fixing this will take time, but will also require the changing of hearts in billions of people, which is by all definitions a miracle only you can do. May your Spirit do exactly that. Amen.