Do Miracles Still Happen?

Next to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson is probably the most intriguing president to ever live.  

In part Jefferson’s intrigue is related to his complexity.  On one hand Jefferson was a brilliant architect and farmer; yet on the other hand, Jefferson was a poor businessman with his life ending in bankruptcy, and the sale of Monticello, his beloved home.  On one hand Jefferson was a visionary proponent of justice, declaring that all persons are created equal; yet on the other hand, Jefferson was a slaveholder, having a long-term affair with one of his enslaved, Sally Hemmings.

But probably the greatest complexity of Jefferson was his view toward God.  One hand Jefferson believed that all are answerable to God, with certain unalienable rights, endowed by their Creator; yet on the other hand Jefferson never yielded to the sovereignty of God, not only downplaying, but literally ‘cutting out’ God’s divine, miraculous power.  

Now when I say ‘cutting out,’ I mean literally – for Jefferson created his own version of the Bible, known today as the Jefferson Bible – in which Jefferson literally ‘cut out’ all the miracles of Jesus, and other aspects of the Lord’s supernatural power – literally ‘cutting and pasting’ his own version of God’s Holy Word.

As we enter the 10th chapter of the book of Joshua, Joshua is clearly not cutting out the miraculous, supernatural nature of God.  In fact, the story before us is one of the most miraculous stories in the Bible.  The context is Israel’s conflict with the Amorites and clearly God is on Israel’s side in a dramatic way.  Utilizing the whole realm of His creation – God initially calls down hail on the Amorites; in fact:  “…the Lord hurled large hailstones down on the [Amorites] from the sky and more of [the Amorites] died from hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites…” (Joshua 10:11).  

But then his greatest miracle follows.  Desiring to give the Israelites every advantage in defeating the Amorites – God literally gives the Israelites additional time for victory – by giving them an additional day of sunlight – as the “….the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.”  (Joshua 10:13).  The next statement from Joshua 10:14 is the understatement of all understatements:  and “…there has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to [the Israelites.  For] surely the Lord was fighting for Israel…”  (Joshua 10:14).

Now I want to be clear:  that statement is true:  there is no record in history of God ever again stopping the sun, and providing an additional day.  But there is ample evidence that God is still in the miracle working business.  Translated:  just as Joshua didn’t cut out the miraculous, supernatural nature of God – we dare not cut out the miraculous, supernatural nature of God.  Translated:  we must avoid ‘being a Thomas Jefferson’ -- failing to yield to the sovereignty of God.   Rather we need to yield to the sovereignty of God -- believing all things are possible through Him – even the supernatural, even the miraculous!

The assumption is that at some point in life we all need a miracle!  In other words:  at some point we all come to an impasse in life when our effort is just not ‘cutting it’ -- and supernatural, divine effort is required for a breakthrough to occur.   

Frankly such moments are scary moments for impasse moments are moments when often we feel out of control.   I mean when our effort is no longer ‘cutting it,’ we often feel as if life is ‘slipping between our fingers’ – that we’re losing it.  But our text from Joshua, and other miracle accounts in scripture remind us – that though we feel, at times, that we’re losing it -- we’re never really ‘losing it’ – for God always has us in His grip; in fact, in God, we are always ‘found.’

The critical thing is that we must visualize ourselves as ‘found’ – safe within the dependable – sovereign -- miracle-working ability of God!  And scripture assures us, over and over again – we are.  For as Deuteronomy 33:27 reminds us: “the eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.  He will drive out your enemies before you saying, 'Destroy them!  (Deuteronomy 33:37).  

And so what enemies, what obstacles threaten, confound your life?  Where are Amorites 'breathing down your neck' -- pursuing you -- threatening you?  Listen: the God who holds you -- whose everlasting arms are ever around you -- is the God who also rescues you - providing a way when there appears to be no way -- utilizing all the resources of His Creation, including His most priceless creation -- you and me!

     

Biblioburro is a PBS documentary featuring librarian Luis Soriano and a library like none other.  Why a decade ago Luis discovered that the children of Columbia’s Magdalena Providence had no books.  And for good reason:  the Magdalena Providence is horribly remote – largely inaccessible -- for all practical purposes.   But inspired by his faith, and a love of books – Luis decided to ‘make a way where there appeared to be no way’ – coming against the obstacle of poverty.  

Luis did so in an amazing, even miraculous way – ‘packing up’ two hard-working burros and loading them up with books.  And so every weekend faithfully, Luis ‘makes a way where there appears to be no way’ – braving armed bandits – drug traffickers – poisonous snakes and intense heart – traversing deep into Bolivia’s interior to the Magdalena Providence – reaching the inaccessible – achieving the impossible.

Friends:  God specializes in reaching the inaccessible and achieving the impossible; God specializes in ‘making a way where there appears to be no way.’   Now on occasion, God does solo miracles making the sun stand still – but more often God asks that we team up with Him, so we can be a part of the miracle, conveying Godly assistance -- and God Himself -- to one another.   

And so as we seek miracle working power, we seek it not just for self – but for others.  For the greatest miracle is not the sun standing still, or even sacrificial, humanitarian works   The greatest miracle is the Word Made Flesh – God's own Son, Jesus -- and the holy privilege of offering Jesus to others. And so - yes - offer miraculous, Spirit-inspired works (e.g. books on burros); that's wonder-full.  But ultimately offer the greatest Work, the Work of Jesus, the Word made flesh (John 1:14); that's critical, that's life-changing -- forever! 

And so offer the greatest miracle:  the Word Made Flesh, God's One and Only Son.  For our God is not a 'Thomas Jefferson God,' a 'cut and paste God' -- but a God of 'flesh and divine' -- 'earthly and supernatural' -- 'practical and astounding'!  

Inspiring us -- yes -- toward miraculous works (e.g. books on burros) -- but inspiring us ultimately -- toward the most miraculous Work:  a Savior on a Cross -- who's dying to rescue -- 'informing'/ 'demonstrating' the most miraculous reality:  in spite of sin and self -- we are saved and restored!