It's A Miracle!

*Artist, James Dive, shows what the parting of the
Red Sea would have looked like from space. 

     

     Last week I featured a very unscientific poll regarding the subject of miracles.  I asked the question, “Which of these events are miracles?”  (Only one choice described an actual miracle, while the others were only highly unlikely occurrences.)  Most voters only selected the true miracle, while some, perhaps facetiously, selected the others.  My aim was to recapture the meaning of a word which historically described something truly rare and wonderful.  “A miracle is a particular kind of sign—an unmistakable display of supernatural power calculated to confront unbelief and provoke awe—with the purpose of authenticating an agent of divine revelation. True miracles are not merely arbitrary displays of God's power; they are manifestly supernatural and are themselves a form of revelation.”(Johnson)  

     When I googled the word, I found everything under the sun from bras to sandwich spread. It's used figuratively so much, that I wonder if the meaning isn't greatly diminished.  We all do it.  We see or hear of something amazing and immediately exclaim, “that’s a miracle!” when what we’ve actually seen is an act of God’s providence; not a miracle.  As we enter the season of giving thanks for the providence of God and rejoicing in the miraculous birth of God the Son, I just thought it would be a good time to distinguish these awesome displays of God's power over His creation.  

*"Recreate Parting of Red Sea." Daily Mail. Web. 15 Nov 2010. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1295301/Gods-eye-view-Artist-uses-Google-Earth-images-recreate-parting-Red-Sea-Christs-crucifixion.html#ixzz15NrnyVfS

Johnson, Phil. "Miracles and Acts of Providence."Pyromaniacs. PHIL JOHNSON AND THE PYROMANIACS, 11 Nov 2005. Web. 15 Nov 2010.