Extraordinary Wonders

The Same God—Yesterday, Today and Forever

Do you believe in miracles?

This question was once put to Dr. Jacalyn Duffin, a hematologist—a doctor who specializes in blood and blood diseases.

Her answer was simple:

“Yes, I do.”

It is an interesting answer coming from a medical doctor.

Duffin's answer is particularly interesting because she spent years researching reported miracles—more than 1,400 of them.

And she understood the tension between medicine and divine healing. When something cannot be explained medically, the thinking is often that there must still be an explanation—we just haven't found it yet.

Duffin puts it more plainly. When a patient reports a miracle—a thing of wonder—there can be an assumption that “somebody must be lying or misled.”

And yet, after all she had examined, when asked whether she believed in miracles, her answer was still:

“Yes, I do.”

Why?

Because some of the healings could not be explained medically—and, as Duffin observed, there was a remarkable stability to the healing over time.

Throughout history, people have continued to report experiences that seem to go beyond ordinary explanation—the kind that make you say:

“This cannot be possible. How can this be?”

The Bible is filled with accounts of such events that leave you with your mouth open in amazement—events that seem to defy medicine, science, nature, military strategy, legal process, and sometimes just plain common sense.

A man who had been dead and buried for four days walked out of his grave.

An entire nation walked through the middle of a sea on dry ground.

Three men were thrown into a blazing furnace and walked out without even the smell of fire on them.

An army was deliberately reduced to just 300 men before being sent into battle—and won.

These are the kinds of stories that make you stop and say:

This cannot be possible.

Job described God—the doer of all these wonders—this way:

“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.”Job 9:10, NIV

Wonders without number.

Today, I thought it would be good for us to take a journey backwards and look again at some of these extraordinary wonders.

Not simply because they are fascinating Bible stories.

But because sometimes, when we are in the middle of our own trials—whether it is a medical diagnosis, a family situation, a problem with one of our children, a financial crisis, a work problem, a legal matter, or something else that seems to have no possible solution—we can become so consumed by what is in front of us that we forget.

We forget what God has done, who He is, and what He is capable of doing.

Recalling God's past works of wonder is not new.

Throughout Scripture, when God's people faced difficulty, doubts, threats and sometimes impossible circumstances, they did something very interesting.

They looked back.

The psalmist wrote:

“We have heard with our ears, O God, our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.”Psalm 44:1, NIV

When Gideon looked at the oppression of Israel and wondered where the God of the old stories was, he asked:

“Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’”Judges 6:13, NIV

In a time of distress, the psalmist deliberately remembered:

“I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”Psalm 77:11–12, NIV

Jehoshaphat did the same when Judah was faced with a mighty army they knew they could not defeat. He looked back at what God had done before:

“LORD, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations… Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel…?”2 Chronicles 20:6–7, NIV

Isaiah also looked back:

“Was it not you who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced that monster through? Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep…?”Isaiah 51:9–10, NIV

Was it not You?

They looked back to remind themselves that the God who had done these wonders could do it again. Their prayers also show that they were asking God to intervene again—to show His power in the situation before them, as He had done in the past.

We may never stand before a Red Sea with Pharaoh's army behind us. But we will face obstacles that seem to have no way through.

We may never face Gideon's army, Daniel's furnace or Peter's prison. But we will face situations where everything we can see tells us that the odds are against us.

And like the psalmist, we look up and ask:

“Where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”Psalm 121:1–2, NIV

Whatever the situation, the God of yesterday is still our help today.

Scripture says it this way:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”Hebrews 13:8, NIV

The circumstances may change. The problem may be different.

But God has not changed.

Let's Look Back at Some of These Wonders

The Bible records accounts of the impossible—things that seem to defy what medicine, biology, nature, resources, military strength and human systems say should be possible.

What Medicine Says Is Impossible

• Lazarus — dead and buried for four days. Martha's response says it all: “by this time he stinketh.” (John 11:17, 39–44, KJV)

  
  

• The woman with the issue of blood — bleeding for twelve years, many doctors, everything spent, and growing worse. (Mark 5:25–34)

  
  

• The widow of Nain's son — dead and already being carried out in a funeral procession when Jesus stopped them and raised him. (Luke 7:11–15)

  
  

• The man at Bethesda — living with his condition for thirty-eight years. When Jesus asked if he wanted to be well, his answer revealed his situation: “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred.” (John 5:5–9, NIV)

  
  

• The lame man at the Beautiful Gate — unable to walk from birth. (Acts 3:2–8)

  
  

When Biology Said It Was Too Late

• Sarah — ninety years old and past the age of childbearing. (Genesis 17:17; 18:11–14; 21:1–2)

  
  

• Elizabeth — unable to conceive, and both she and Zechariah were advanced in years. (Luke 1:7, 13, 18, 24)

  
  

• Mary — a virgin who asked, “How will this be… since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34–35)

  
  

• The Shunammite woman — childless, with an aging husband, yet promised a son. (2 Kings 4:14–17)

  
  

• Manoah's wife — unable to conceive, yet she gave birth to Samson. (Judges 13:2–5, 24)

  
  

When Nature Said Impossible

• The Red Sea — the waters divided and Israel crossed on dry ground. (Exodus 14:21–22)

  
  

• The floating axe head — iron fell into the water and floated. (2 Kings 6:5–7)

  
  

• The fiery furnace — three men walked out without being burned or even smelling of fire. (Daniel 3:19–27)

  
  

• The sun stood still — Joshua asked for more time in battle. (Joshua 10:12–14)

  
  

• Water from the rock — water came from a rock in the wilderness. (Exodus 17:1–6)

  
  

When Scarcity Said There Was Not Enough

• Five loaves and two fish — thousands ate and twelve baskets were left over. (Matthew 14:15–21)

  
  

• Manna in the wilderness — God provided food for Israel where there was none. (Exodus 16:4–15)

  
  

• The widow's oil — one small jar of oil kept flowing until every available jar was filled. (2 Kings 4:1–7)

  
  

• The widow of Zarephath — a handful of flour and a little oil did not run out during the famine. (1 Kings 17:8–16)

  
  

• Water turned into wine — when the wine ran out at the wedding, Jesus provided more. (John 2:1–11)

  
  

When the Enemy Was Stronger

• Gideon's 300 — God deliberately reduced Gideon's army before sending him against Midian. (Judges 7:2–22)

  
  

• David and Goliath — a young shepherd faced an experienced warrior. (1 Samuel 17)

  
  

• Jehoshaphat — Judah faced a vast army they had no power to defeat. (2 Chronicles 20:1–24)

  
  

• Jericho — the fortified walls fell after Israel followed God's unusual instructions. (Joshua 6:1–20)

  
  

• Israel and Pharaoh — an enslaved people faced the military power of Egypt and walked away free. (Exodus 5–14)

  
  

When the Door Seemed Firmly Closed

• Peter — chained between soldiers, guarded in prison, behind an iron gate—and he walked out. (Acts 12:4–10)

  
  

• Paul and Silas — beaten, locked in the inner prison and placed in stocks; an earthquake opened the prison doors. (Acts 16:23–26)

  
  

• Daniel — thrown into a den of lions; God shut their mouths. (Daniel 6:16–23)

  
  

• Joseph — sold into slavery and later imprisoned, yet eventually raised to authority in Egypt. (Genesis 37; 39–41)

  
  

• Esther — approached the king without being summoned, at the risk of her life, and found favour. (Esther 4:11–16; 5:1–3)

  
  

Wonders without number. The question is: What can't He do?

Perhaps that is why Scripture repeatedly confronts us with questions about God's ability.

When Sarah laughed at the thought of having a child in her old age, God asked:

“Is anything too hard for the LORD?”Genesis 18:14, NIV

When Moses could not understand how God could possibly provide enough meat for the Israelites, God asked:

“Is the LORD’s arm too short?”Numbers 11:23, NIV

God asked Jeremiah:

“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”Jeremiah 32:27, NIV

Jesus said:

“What is impossible with man is possible with God.”Luke 18:27, NIV

And again:

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”Matthew 19:26, NIV

Is anything too hard for God?

Is His arm too short?

Is anything impossible with Him?

Scripture seems determined to remind us of the answer: nothing is impossible for God.

What Does This Mean for Us?

I don't know what you are dealing with right now. It may be a diagnosis, something concerning one of your children, a financial difficulty, a problem at work, a relationship, or something you have been carrying for a very long time.

Whatever it is, keep this in mind:

We have a God whose Word has been tried and proven.

David said:

“As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”Psalm 18:30, NIV

Let us take refuge in Him.

Today we looked at God's wonders.

We recall what we heard growing up—what our parents, grandparents and others told us about God.

We also know the testimonies of others who have experienced His help.

And then there is our own experience.

We have our own record of what He has done for us.

The times God provided.

The doors He opened.

The prayers He answered.

The situations we could not see our way through—but somehow, we came through.

Let's bring the record before Him—all of it: what He has done in Scripture, the testimonies we have heard, what He has promised in His Word, and what He has already done in our own lives.

Scripture shows us people doing exactly that.

God Himself says:

“Review the past for me…”Isaiah 43:26, NIV

Nehemiah prayed:

“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses…”Nehemiah 1:8, NIV

Moses prayed:

“Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self…”Exodus 32:13, NIV

David prayed:

“Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.”Psalm 119:49, NIV

And we too can come to God with the record.

We remind God, but we also remind ourselves.

Because the God who parted the Red Sea has not lost His ability to make a way through an obstacle.

The God who provided in the wilderness has not run out of resources.

The God who delivered His people from armies stronger than they were has not become weaker.

The God who opened prison doors has not lost His ability to open a door.

The God who did what everyone thought was impossible is still God.

He can do it again. He is the God of yesterday, today and forever.

Nothing we bring before Him is beyond His ability.

And as we trust Him, let us hold on to this promise:

“For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:18, KJV\

As You Go About Your Day…

Recall some of the wonders we looked at today.

Then think about your own life. Remember some of the things God has done for you—the ones that left you amazed, the situations you could not see your way through, the prayers He answered in ways you did not expect.

Ask yourself:

1. Is anything too hard for the Lord?

2. Is the problem I am facing too difficult for Him?

3. Can He still make a way where I cannot see a way?

   
   

Resolve to trust again in our God, who meets us with endless resources when what we have and what we can do are not enough.

I leave you with the words of one of my favourite hymns, O God, Our Help in Ages Past. Perhaps you remember it too:

 “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.”

Our God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of your throne

Your saints have dwelt secure;

Sufficient is your arm alone,

And our defense is sure.

 Have a lovely weekend!  See you on Monday