We Describe Many Things as Miracles

1
We Describe Many Things as Miracles

• The development and birth of a baby.
• Surviving a serious accident.
• An unexpected promotion or raise
• The Magic of Love
• An Astounding Sports Highlight

2
Of course, these are not Miracles in the true
sense.

• Miracles involve violating Natural Law i.e.
  walking on water, instantly turning water into
  wine, etc.
• The Bible teaches that true Miracles ceased once
  Gods revelation was complete.

3
If true Miracles no longer exist, can God still
accomplish amazing things?

• God has often worked remarkable things in the
  world without resorting to miracles.

4
A Remarkable Life Joseph

• Sold into slavery, yet
• Became head manager of Potiphars household and
  assets
• Falsely accused and thrown into prison.
• Rose to be in charge of all other prisoners

• Upon release from prison, became Prime Minister
  of all Egypt.
• Marries very well has two sons
• His father and family are given prime land to
  live on in Egypt.

5
No miracles, but God worked strongly and
decisively in his life.

• Sold into slavery, yet
• Became head manager of Potiphars household and
  assets
• Falsely accused and thrown into prison.
• Rose to be in charge of all other prisoners

• Upon release from prison, became Prime Minister
  of all Egypt.
• Marries very well has two sons
• His father and family are given prime land to
  live on in Egypt.

6
Baby Moses

• When Jochabed could hide him no longer, she got
  him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar
  and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set
  it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. His
  sister stood at a distance to find out what would
  happen to him.
• The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the
  Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the
  Nile and she saw the basket among the reeds and
  sent her maid, and she brought it to her. When
  she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the
  boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said,
  "This is one of the Hebrews' children."

7
Baby Moses

• Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter,
  "Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the
  Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for
  you?" Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go ahead."
  So the girl went and called the child's mother.
  Then Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this
  child away and nurse him for me and I will give
  you your wages." So the woman took the child and
  nursed him.
• (Exodus 22-9)

8
A Remarkable Life Moses

• As a baby, avoids massacre b/c his mother placed
  him in a basket on the Nile.
• He ends up at the exact location where Pharoahs
  daughter is arriving to bathe.

• She hires Moses mother as a nurse for the child.
• Jochabed nurses her own son under royal
  protection and gets paid for it.
• Moses raised with power, education and wealth.

9
No Miracle here, but God brought remarkable
events together to serve a significant purpose.

• As a baby, avoids massacre b/c his mother placed
  him in a basket on the Nile.
• He ends up at the exact location where Pharoahs
  daughter is arriving to bathe.

• She hires Moses mother as a nurse for the child.
• Jochabed nurses her own son under royal
  protection and gets paid for it.
• Moses raised with power, education and wealth.

10
Israel Providence in Captivity

• On the day that I cleanse you from all your
  iniquities, I will cause the cities to be
  inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt.
  The desolate land will be cultivated instead of
  being a desolation in the sight of everyone who
  passes by. (Ezekiel 3633 34)

11
Israel Providence in Captivity

• On the day that I cleanse you from all your
  iniquities, I will cause the cities to be
  inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt.
  The desolate land will be cultivated instead of
  being a desolation in the sight of everyone who
  passes by. (Ezekiel 3633 34)

• Faithful ones to preserve teach the Law were
  among those taken to Babylon.
• When Babylon fell to Persia, Cyrus did what had
  never been done Allowed captives to return
  rebuild.
• When enemies prevented the rebuilding of the
  Temple, Persia helped to finance its completion!

12
Providence in South America

• A Colombian man goes to prison in Missouri for
  drug smuggling.
• Another prisoner introduces him to a Bible Course
  from a church in small-town eastern Kentucky.
• He obeys the Gospel, is released deported.
• Writes to the church asking for their preacher to
  come and teach him more.
• That church has an eldership that immediately
  sends their own preacher plus another man.

13
Providence in South America

• After rapid success, the Colombian man falls
  away.
• A few Colombian twenty-somethings step up to
  salvage what is left of the congregation.
• Today there are around 40 faithful congregations
  there, and the work has crossed the borders into
  Venezuela and Ecuador.

14
Lessons About Providence

• God requires faithfulness and consistent work for
  His providence to intervene.
• His providence could have worked for King Saul,
  but unfaithfulness prevented it.
• Gods providence worked for David, who was a
  consistently faithful person.
• Providence sometimes requires what we see as
  setbacks or failures.
• Joseph in slavery/prison Moses failure at 40
• We may not understand His providence until long
  after it has worked.

15
Gods Providence can work in your life.

• If we are faithful, prayerful and patient, we
  will see its effects in our lives.