How often do you use the word “miracle”? Is it a concept that comes to your mind when you look at a new born baby or receive wonderful, but unexpected, good news from your doctor? Does the word miraculous come to your mind when others might simply use the word lucky or fortunate? The dictionary explains that the word can have two quite different meanings. The first is “an event that appears unexplainable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God.” The second is “a person, thing, or event that excites admiring awe or wonder.” It has been said that “there are no coincidences (accidental sequence of events) for those people who know and love God.”
There was a time when the Israelites were living under serious oppression by the Midianites and so finally they cried out to the Lord. It seems that the Lord heard their cry and wanted to use a man named Gideon to save Israel. However, when the angel of the Lord came to him, he was very reluctant. He wanted God to perform a few miracles so that he could be sure that God would really come through for him. In His patience and kindness, God did some miraculous things for Gideon. In the process Gideon was transformed from a man of serious uncertainty to a man of faith. The result was that Gideon knew that his God would continue to be with them and against great odds he went into battle declaring to his men, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” It was a miracle!
How do the miracles God continues to do around you and in you give you confidence and hope? Do you watch for them each day?
