Miracles

Description

How to Prepare for a Miracle

1. Obedience to God’s Instructions: Many miracles in the Bible required individuals to follow specific commands from God or His messengers. For example, Noah built the ark as instructed, and Moses stretched out his hand over the Red Sea.
2. Faith and Trust in God: Trusting in God’s power and promises is crucial. Abraham demonstrated this by being willing to sacrifice Isaac, and the Israelites showed faith when they walked through the parted Red Sea.
3. Prayer and Seeking God: Miracles often came in response to prayer and seeking God earnestly. The disciples were in prayer at Pentecost, and Daniel prayed regularly even when it was forbidden.
4. Humility and Acknowledgment of Need: Admitting one’s need for God’s intervention is a recurring theme. Naaman humbled himself to follow Elisha’s instructions, and the widow in Zarephath followed Elijah’s direction despite her dire circumstances.
5. Acting in Faith: Taking steps in faith, even when the outcome is uncertain, is a common preparatory action. Peter stepped out of the boat to walk on water, and the servants filled jars with water as Jesus instructed.

How to Meet the Requirements to Receive a Miracle

1. Faith: Belief in God’s ability to perform the miracle is a primary requirement. Jesus often highlighted the faith of those He healed, such as the woman with the issue of blood and the centurion with a sick servant.
2. Righteousness and Obedience: Living a life aligned with God’s will is often connected with receiving miracles. Noah’s righteousness saved him and his family from the flood, and Lot’s obedience led to his rescue from Sodom.
3. Perseverance and Patience: Many biblical figures had to wait and persevere in faith before witnessing a miracle. Abraham waited years for the birth of Isaac, and the Israelites wandered in the desert before reaching the Promised Land.
4. Repentance and Turning to God: Turning away from sin and seeking God’s forgiveness is vital. The Israelites needed to turn back to God for the miracle at Mount Carmel, and Nineveh’s repentance led to their city being spared.
5. Action and Participation: Miracles often required active participation. The Israelites had to march around Jericho, and the priests had to step into the Jordan River before it parted.

In summary, preparing for a miracle involves obedience, faith, prayer, humility, and taking steps in faith. Meeting the requirements includes maintaining faith, living righteously, persevering, repenting, and actively participating in God’s instructions.

 

Below is a comprehensive examination of miracles in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Each entry includes the miracle worker, the preparations, and the requirements for those who received the miracles.

Old Testament

Genesis

1. Creation (Genesis 1-2)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: None
   • Requirements: None
2. The Flood (Genesis 6-9)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: Noah building the ark as per God’s instructions.
   • Requirements: Noah and his family’s obedience and righteousness.
3. Confusion of Languages at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: Construction of the Tower of Babel by humanity.
   • Requirements: None directly for those receiving the miracle (punishment for pride).
4. Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: Lot’s escape as instructed by the angels.
   • Requirements: Lot’s obedience to leave and not look back.
5. Birth of Isaac to Sarah (Genesis 21:1-7)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah.
   • Requirements: Faith in God’s promise.
6. Provision of a Ram in Place of Isaac (Genesis 22:13-14)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac.
   • Requirements: Abraham’s faith and obedience.

Exodus

1. The Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-4:17)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: Moses’ shepherding at Horeb.
   • Requirements: Moses’ curiosity and response.
2. Plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7-12)
   • Miracle Worker: God through Moses and Aaron
   • Preparations: Moses and Aaron confronting Pharaoh.
   • Requirements: Pharaoh’s hardened heart, Israelites’ faith.
3. Parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-31)
   • Miracle Worker: God through Moses
   • Preparations: Moses stretching out his hand over the sea.
   • Requirements: Israelites’ faith to walk through.
4. Manna and Quail Provided (Exodus 16)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: Israelites’ grumbling in the wilderness.
   • Requirements: Following God’s instructions to gather.
5. Water from the Rock (Exodus 17:1-7)
   • Miracle Worker: God through Moses
   • Preparations: Moses striking the rock as instructed.
   • Requirements: Israelites’ need for water.

Leviticus

1. Fire from the Lord Consumes the Offering (Leviticus 9:24)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: Aaron presenting the offerings as commanded.
   • Requirements: Priests’ obedience in sacrificial rituals.

Numbers

1. Aaron’s Rod Buds (Numbers 17:8)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: Placing the rods before the Ark.
   • Requirements: Leadership challenge resolution.
2. Water from the Rock at Meribah (Numbers 20:11)
   • Miracle Worker: God through Moses
   • Preparations: Moses striking the rock.
   • Requirements: Israelites’ need for water.

Deuteronomy

1. Moses’ Vision of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34:1-4)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: Moses climbing Mount Nebo.
   • Requirements: Moses’ faithfulness.

Joshua

1. Crossing the Jordan River (Joshua 3:14-17)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: Priests carrying the Ark stepping into the Jordan.
   • Requirements: Israelites’ faith to follow.
2. Fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-27)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: Israelites marching around the city for seven days.
   • Requirements: Obedience to God’s strategy.

Judges

1. Gideon’s Victory over Midian (Judges 7)
   • Miracle Worker: God through Gideon
   • Preparations: Gideon’s selection of 300 men.
   • Requirements: Faith and obedience.

1 Kings

1. Elijah Fed by Ravens (1 Kings 17:2-6)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: Elijah’s hiding by the brook.
   • Requirements: Elijah’s obedience.
2. Widow’s Oil and Flour (1 Kings 17:8-16)
   • Miracle Worker: God through Elijah
   • Preparations: Elijah’s request and widow’s obedience.
   • Requirements: Widow’s faith.
3. Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-40)
   • Miracle Worker: God through Elijah
   • Preparations: Building the altar and placing the sacrifice.
   • Requirements: Israelites’ need to turn back to God.

2 Kings

1. Elisha Heals Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-19)
   • Miracle Worker: God through Elisha
   • Preparations: Naaman’s journey and dipping in Jordan.
   • Requirements: Naaman’s humility and obedience.

Daniel

1. Protection in the Lions’ Den (Daniel 6:16-23)
   • Miracle Worker: God
   • Preparations: Daniel’s unwavering faith.
   • Requirements: Daniel’s faithfulness to God.

New Testament

Matthew

1. Jesus Heals the Sick (Matthew 4:23-24)
   • Miracle Worker: Jesus
   • Preparations: Jesus’ ministry and teaching.
   • Requirements: Faith of the sick and those bringing them.
2. Feeding the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21)
   • Miracle Worker: Jesus
   • Preparations: Disciples gathering what little they had.
   • Requirements: Faith in Jesus to provide.
3. Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33)
   • Miracle Worker: Jesus
   • Preparations: Disciples in the boat, Jesus walking to them.
   • Requirements: Peter’s faith to step out.

John

1. Water to Wine (John 2:1-11)
   • Miracle Worker: Jesus
   • Preparations: Filling jars with water as instructed.
   • Requirements: Servants’ obedience.
2. Raising Lazarus (John 11:1-44)
   • Miracle Worker: Jesus
   • Preparations: Jesus’ journey to Lazarus’ tomb.
   • Requirements: Faith of Mary, Martha, and the onlookers.

Acts

1. Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4)
   • Miracle Worker: Holy Spirit
   • Preparations: Disciples gathered in prayer.
   • Requirements: Faith and unity.
2. Healing the Lame Man (Acts 3:1-10)
   • Miracle Worker: God through Peter and John
   • Preparations: Apostles’ prayer and command.
   • Requirements: Lame man’s faith to rise.

Revelation

1. Visions of John (Revelation 1:9-20)
   • Miracle Worker: Jesus
   • Preparations: John’s exile on Patmos.
   • Requirements: John’s faithfulness and readiness to receive.

This list highlights a variety of miracles across the Bible, showing different miracle workers (primarily God, Jesus, and prophets), the preparations often involving acts of faith and obedience, and requirements generally centered around faith and adherence to God’s instructions