Many people today have the meaning of miracles twisted. People do not understand the meaning of miracles. Today we are taught that miracles are a reward of righteousness. Let me tell you, MIRACLES ARE NOT A REWARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Look at a few examples in scripture.
SAMSON
Jdg 13:24,25 Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the child grew up and the LORD blessed him.25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
We can see that he grew up in the Lord. Fitting for a man who was going to deliver God's people. He was well known for his strength. He performed many miracles with his mighty hands.
JDG 16:3 Now Samson lay until midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the city gate and the two posts and pulled them up along with the bars; then he put them on his shoulders and carried them up to the top of the mountain which is opposite Hebron.
This was another miracle performed by Samson. Are familiar where he was and what he did just prior to doing this?
JDG 16:1,2 Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her.2 When it was told to the Gazites, saying, “Samson has come here,” they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. And they kept silent all night, saying, “Let us wait until the morning light, then we will kill him.”
You see, the people of Gaza was planning to kill him but did you notice he was with a harlot. Prior to this miracle HE WAS WITH A PROSTITUTE! Do you still think miracles are a reward for righteousness?
BALAAM
Balaam was a sorcerer. He knew of the one true God but made his services available on a freelance basis, so to speak. Balak, the King of Moab, tried to make use of his services to curse the Israelites in Numbers 22:1-21. God tells Balaam not to do it. King Balak sent his men to Balaam again. This time the Lord tells him to go with them this time but to only say and do what God says! Soon enough Balaam speaks to the words of God!
NU 22:38 So Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.”
You see, Balaam prophesied! He was a sorcerer. He was not righteous! MIRACLES ARE NOT A REWARD FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS!
BALAAM'S DONKEY
Consider this, when we read in chapters 22 and 23 in the book of Numbers another miracle happens! BALAAM'S DONKEY SPEAKS IN TONGUES! We read where Balaam's donkey was given the ability to speak in man's language!
NU 22:28-30 And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”29 Then Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.”30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?” And he said, “No.”
MIRACLES ARE NOT A REWARD FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS!
What righteousness does a donkey have. Did the Lord make a donkey in his own image?(GE 1:27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them)
Did the Lord breathe life into a donkey?(GE 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.) NO!!
DAVID
1SA 13:14 “But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
This is what Samuel says to Saul in reference to David. David was known as "a man after God's own heart." I want you to know that the man after God's own heart NEVER PERFORMED A MIRACLE!
JOHN THE BAPTIST
MT 11:11 “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!
This is what Jesus says concerning John the Baptist! I want you to know that the greatest among those born of a woman NEVER PERFORMED A MIRACLE!
MIRACLES ARE NOT A REWARD FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS!
So, what are miracles for? Miracles happened for two reasons.
TO REVEAL A NEW TRUTH AND TO SHOW THE AUTHORITY OF THE ONE WHO DID THEM!
JOS 3:7 Now the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.
Look at what God told Joshua. "I will begin to exalt you; that they may know; I will be with you"
Look at the miracles mentioned earlier!
Samson was in a position of authority to deliver Israel.
JDG 13:5 “ For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
Balaam was revealing a truth or the word of God!
NU 23:5 Then the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus.”
NU 23:16 Then the LORD met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”
Balaam's Donkey showed to Balaam God's authority not only to speak to man but his authority over animals. This was also to announce to Balaam that he will say and what the Lord tells him when he speaks with Balak. See Num 22:22-35
Have a red letter day,
Chad
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