Featured Are miracles always instantaneous?

Aren't we all just splitting hairs here?

 

If you have hairs to split.

How about Moses and the parting of the Red Sea.

That and all the people crossing was instantaneous?

 

I get your point and agree. Was referring more to the analysis in some of the posts. Sorry for not being clear.

 

Spurgeon: "Though the barrel of meal hold but a scanty supply, though the cruse of oil contain but a drop, that meal shall last thee to the end, that cruse of oil, miraculously multiplied, hour by hour, shall be sufficient"

Amen!

 

Creation is a miracle including all parts of it. Everything you see is part of God's miraculous decree of all that will ever be. Things just don't happen by themselves.

 

You see @rlvaughn, your shortcoming is not being uber-spiritual like our friend here.

 

I view it as his miraculous providence that takes place apart from his visible cause-and-effect relationships. But we are experiencing one huge all-encompassing miracle in every breath we take.

 

I don't understand your insults. Motive?

 

Are miracles always instantaneous?

Maybe if we're Krafty enough, a Miracle can be Whip.ped up instantly.

How about Jesus' cursing of the fig tree? There is not mention of it withering in a snap there, bu the by the next day as they passed it again it had withered.

 

How about having a book printed with ink on paper, that has the real word of God?

What kind of time period does that involve?

 

Yes, this was brought up earlier and referred to as “both immediate and continuous.” The parting, and perhaps the dry ground, occurred immediately with the wind, but then was a continuous miracle. The waters returning would have been the result of the wind immediately ceasing. As for the chariots swerving or getting stuck, perhaps that had to do with the ground no longer being dry, though the text doesn’t appear to be exact on that. The Egyptians saw it as God fighting for the Israelites.

 

Really? Where in the Bible did Jesus miraculously print a book on paper? That's not a miracle in the Bible sense, though it may be one, the more broadly defined, in the English languages.

May I suggest that you need a Biblical definition of "miracle"? Here you go, one of the words used for "miracle" as defined by Friberg:

σημεῖον, ου, το (1) basically, as what serves as a pointer to aid perception or insight sign, mark, distinguishing characteristic; (2) as what distinguishes one person or thing from another sign, token, mark (LU 2.12; RO 4.11); (3) as a miraculous event contrary to the usual course of nature and intended as a pointer or means of confirmation, often used with τέρας (wonder) sign (MK 13.22); as a miraculous event resulting from personal action sign, miracle (JN 2.11; RV 13.13 )

 

No offense, but your definition of "miracle" is the common one in modern English, but more of a rhetorical one, a symbolic one. Please go to the NT for a better definition, one that fits the discussion which is of God's miracles in the Bible. A miracle in the Bible is God reaching down into nature and doing something humanly impossible.

 

Since God is supernatural, and all he does involves a supernatural event. Creation and all he created, right down to your very thoughts are miracles.

 

That's defining "miracle" very broadly. In the NT, a miracle is usually a "sign" pointing to something God does, in particular the works of Jesus. Someone thinking a thought is hardly a sign of the works of God, being invisible. Again, another word used in the NT for "miracles" is "wonder." Someone thinking a thought hardly produces the feeling of "wonder" in others.

What you are describing is called by theologians (correctly I believe) Providence, not miracles. Someone thinking of a spectacular method to get the Gospel out is not a miracle, but putting his thought into action might providentially result in many miracles of salvation.

Someone tripping over their feet and breaking an ankle is certainly not a miracle, but it is providential if it results in a positive change towards God by the person being tested or tried in this way.

As a preacher I know used to say, "I thought a thought I think I thought, but the thought I think I thought was not. Next time I think a thought I think I'll write it down in pen and ink."

 

Many miss the big picture straining at the little details. We can make fun of the mysteries of God we don't understand but that is part of his plan for us too.

 

Apostle John recorded down those signs, as they were miracles done by Lord Jesus to reveal that He was indeed the promised messiah to come!