05.01.03 - Revelation and Miracle Historical Aspects

(3) Revelation and Miracle Historical Aspects

Miracle enters more or less into all the successive stages of revelation, and especially of the revelation of the Divine purposes of redemption for the human race. Miracle enters into the act of Creation, the call of Abraham, the birth of Isaac and the preservation of his seed, the call, appointment, and commission of Moses as the deliverer, leader, and law-giver of Israel, in bringing them out of Egypt and giving them possession of the Promised Land. In the plagues of Egypt, the deliverance at the Red Sea, and the miracles of the Wilderness, we see God as the Avenger of sin, the Deliverer of the helpless, the Defender and Supporter of the needy and the destitute, exhibiting His character and making manifest His purposes of redemption and salvation. With the establishment of Israel in Canaan, and the founding of the monarchy and the establishment of the Schools of the Prophets, and the institution of prophecy, miracles have their place, purpose, and function. But neither in Egypt, at Horeb, in the Wilderness, nor in the days of the Judges, the Kings, and the Former Prophets, are miracles wrought for personal glorification or national aggrandisement, or for investing the worker with a halo of glory and honour; but are wrought for the purposes of encouraging and stimulating people, leader, and prophet to duty and fidelity amid jealousy and discouragement, and to supply the needs of people and leader, judge and prophet, and to help forward the gracious purposes of redemption for the world. So again in the times of the Latter Prophets, in the preservation of the remnant, in the Exile and the deliverance of Judah from Captivity, both to Daniel and his compeers, to the Persian conqueror and his emissaries, God works by special intervention, by miraculous power and energy, to accomplish His purposes for Israel, and the redemption and salvation of the world.

Thus it is that miracles in Old Testament times stand associated with those great events in Israel’s history and progress which make for the revelation of the gracious purposes of God in the redemption of the world, and group themselves around those stages of divine revelation which most clearly reveal the character of God as Redeemer, Teacher, Deliverer and Saviour of men. And if these miraculous manifestations characterise the preparatory stages, it was to be expected that when the fulness of time was come, and Christ Jesus the Redeemer and Fulfiller came to complete and accomplish the Divine purpose, miracles would again break forth in all their resplendent power and glory.

Hence the Incarnation, the mysterious Personality, the Divine manifestation witnessed in the life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, which were of a marvellous and miraculous character, and which were manifested for the purpose of redeeming the race from sin, and restoring the world to God, holiness, and truth.

Miracles are therefore an essential and integral part of God’s revelation to man, and of the economy of grace and salvation, and are inseparable from it. The miracles in themselves had a revealing and teaching function, as also a redeeming, saving, and healing character.