1416 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

Ps 77:14 See also Ex 14:30-31; Ex 34:10; Dt 3:24; 1Ki 18:37-39; Job 5:9; Ps 78:4; Lk 9:42-43

Miracles bringing God’s judgment

Lev 10:1-2 See also Ge 19:24-26; Nu 12:10; Nu 16:31-35; 1Ki 13:4-5; 2Ki 1:9-12; 2Ch 26:19-20; Ac 5:5,10; Ac 13:11

Miracles which meet human need

The provision of food and water Ex 17:6 See also Ex 15:25; Nu 11:31-32; Nu 20:10-11; Jdg 15:18-19; 1Ki 17:5-6,8-16; 2Ki 2:19-22; 2Ki 4:42-44; Mt 14:15-21; Mk 8:1-10

Healing Ac 5:16 See also Nu 21:6-9; 2Ki 5:1-14; Lk 9:6; Ac 3:1-10; Ac 9:33-34; Ac 28:7-9

Exorcism Ac 16:18 See also Mk 6:13; Mk 9:38 pp Lk 9:49; Lk 10:17; Ac 8:7

The raising of the dead Jn 11:38-44 See also 1Ki 17:17-24; 2Ki 4:32-37; 2Ki 13:21; Ac 9:36-41; Ac 20:9-12

Miraculous births Ge 18:10-14 See also Jdg 13:2-3; 1Sa 1:20; 2Ki 4:14-17; Lk 1:34-37

Miracles involving military victory 2Ch 32:21 pp 2Ki 19:35-36 pp Isa 37:36-37 See also Ex 12:29-36; Ex 14:26-28; Jos 10:12-14; 1Sa 7:10-12; 2Ki 6:18-23; 2Ch 20:22-26

Miraculous help in trouble Da 6:27 See also Ps 91:11-12; Da 3:19-27; Da 6:19-23; Mt 8:23-27 pp Mk 4:36-41 pp Lk 8:22-25; Ac 12:6-11; Ac 16:25-26

Gifts of supernatural strength Jdg 14:5-6 See also Jdg 14:19; Jdg 15:14-16; Jdg 16:26-30; 1Ki 18:46

Nature miracles 2Ki 2:7-8 See also Ex 10:13-23; Ex 14:15-22; Jos 3:14-17; 2Ki 2:13-14; Mt 21:18-22 pp Mk 11:12-14 pp Mk 11:20-24; Jn 2:1-11

Miracles are part of God’s plan of redemption

2Sa 7:23 pp 1Ch 17:21 See also Mk 16:17-18; Ac 2:22-24; Ac 14:3; Heb 2:3-4

Miracles occur at times of special significance

At the time of the exodus Ex 3:2-3; Ex 7:3-4; Ex 16:11-15; Ex 17:6-7; Nu 17:8; Dt 4:34

At times of national religious crisis 1Ki 18:30-39; 2Ki 3:16-25; 2Ki 4:3-7,40-41; 2Ki 6:5-7

In the time of Jesus Christ Mt 14:15-21 pp Mk 6:35-44 pp Lk 9:12-17 pp Jn 6:5-13; Mt 20:29-34 pp Mk 10:46-52 pp Lk 18:35-43; Jn 11:38-44

In the time of the first Christians Lk 10:17; Ac 8:6,13; Ac 14:8-10,19-20; Ac 19:11-12

Miracles are God’s gift

They authenticate the message of his servants Jn 10:38 See also Ex 4:30-31; Mt 11:2-5 pp Lk 7:20-22; Mk 9:39; Mk 16:20; Jn 14:11; 2Co 12:12

They are given by God’s sovereign will 1Co 12:8-11 See also Mt 10:1 pp Lk 9:1; 1Co 12:28-30; Gal 3:5

Miracles are not in themselves proof of God’s work

They are no guarantee of genuine faith Mt 7:22-23 See also Lk 16:27-31; Jn 2:23-24; 1Co 13:1-2

They can be counterfeited Mt 24:24 See also Ex 7:11-12,22; Ex 8:7; Ac 8:9-11; 2Th 2:9; Rev 13:13; Rev 16:14; Rev 19:20

See also