Limitations of the Miraculous
Nobody had ever seen as many supernatural works as Israel. God provided miracle after miracle for them, and yet each work left the people as faithless and unbelieving as before. You would think that the ten plagues on Egypt would have produced faith in the Israelites. When Egypt was afflicted with flies, none were found in Israel's camp. When Egypt fell under total darkness, there was no darkness in Israel. However, none of these plagues produced faith of any kind.
Even after God opened the Red Sea, Israel's faith lasted only three days. Scripture says, “They did not remember the multitude of your mercies, but rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea” (Psalm 106:7, NKJV). The psalmist was saying, “They even doubted God at the Red Sea, the very place where he performed one of his greatest miracles.”
We are so like Israel. We want God to speak a word, grant us a miraculous deliverance, quickly meet our needs, remove all our pain and suffering. In fact, you may be saying right now, “If God would just get me out of this mess, if he'd give me this one miracle, I would never doubt him again.”
What about all the miracles he has already performed for you? Have you allowed them to produce in you a faith to help you in your present trouble?
Two precious men of God from the Zulu tribe in Africa visited Times Square Church. An incredible revival was taking place among the eight million Zulus, and God was doing miraculous things among them. That is not what these men wanted to talk about, though. Rather, what impressed them most about the revival were the “overcomer Zulus”, those who stood for Christ, burning witchcraft books and witnessing boldly, even though they were being tested and tried severely. These people were once evil with murderous spirits, and they were being transformed into the image of Jesus.
I believe the greatest sign or wonder to the world in these last days is not a person who has been raised from the dead. No, what truly makes an impact on the mind and spirit of the ungodly is the Christian who endures all trials, storms, pain and suffering with a confident faith. Such a believer emerges from his troubles stronger in character, stronger in faith, stronger in Christ.
