Do Miracles Occur Every Day?
Leon Mauldin
What does the Bible teach regarding miracles? Is it true, as some claim, that miracles are happening every day?
In reality, even during Bible times, miracles did not occur “every day.” Miraculous activities for the most part were confined to certain periods of Biblical history. These included the miracles of the creation week. Then when Israel was in Egyptian bondage, God sent the ten plagues, caused Israel to cross the Red Sea on dry land, fed them with manna, and on occasion also miraculously gave them water. Later, the ministries of the prophets Elijah and Elisha were characterized by numerous miracles.
The next “cluster” of miracles was during the ministry of Christ, and finally, during the establishment and spread of the church (Acts). Obviously then, miracles were not “evenly distributed” over the centuries of Biblical history, but rather were used by God only at certain times, to meet unique needs, and to accomplish specific purposes.
Among the many miracles Jesus performed we read of His healing the man with an amputated ear by simply touching him (Luke 22:50-51). Honestly, do you see that every day, or any day? When there was a great tempest in the sea of Galilee, Jesus “rebuked the waves and the sea and there was a great calm” (Matthew 8:23-26). On another occasion, on that same sea, Jesus came unto His disciples walking on the water (Matthew 14:26). Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 men plus women and children with five loaves and two fish (Matthew 15:32-39. There are three recorded occasions where Jesus raised the dead. These include the only son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17). Jarius’ daughter (Matthew 9:18-26) and Lazarus (John 11).
These are but a few, a very few of the miracles Jesus did. The purpose of Jesus’ miracles is stated in John 2:30-31: “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” That purpose has been accomplished.
Further, Mark gives us insight into the purpose of the miraculous when he writes, “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs” (Mark 16:20). References is made to the salvation which began to be spoken by the Lord, “and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His will” (Hebrews 2:3,4).
The purpose of the miraculous then was to reveal and to confirm the word of God. There was a time limitation on the miraculous. Gifts such as tongues, prophecy, and knowledge (miraculous) would cease (1 Corinthians 13:8-10) with the completion of the revelation. God’s power has not ceased. His presence and glory are evident all around us. We are abundantly blessed by Him (Acts 14:17; James 1:17). He hears and answers prayer (James 5:16). When the revelation of truth was completed, and had been fully confirmed, the miraculous ceased, having accomplished its purpose.