The religious world is often given to extremes. Without doubt, this is true when it comes to how people view God's working in the affairs of men.

Many cannot distinguish in their minds how God can work providentially without working miraculously. The fact is that God is active in our world today through providence using the natural laws. This is quite different from God working through miracles in which God set the laws of nature aside to affect some change or result He desired. With this in mind, it is critical to define and differentiate between a miracle from God and God working through providence.

What Is A Miracle?
In defining a miracle, one must look into the pages of Scripture and the context. This is of utmost importance because our society uses the word "miracle" very loosely. The word "miracle" is commonly used to name incidents that have a slight chance of occurring. For example, the 1980 U.S. Hockey team won the gold medal against the Soviet Union; this was called the "Miracle on Ice." In January 2009, a US Airways Flight, after leaving LaGuardia Airport in New York City, struck a flock of geese and the pilot made an emergency landing on the Hudson River. This was referred to as the "Miracle on the Hudson." The wonderful event of bringing a child into this world is often described as "the miracle of birth." All of these examples are amazing events. The chances of these things happening would seem highly improbable, if not nearly impossible. We may be amazed and unable to express our amazement, but they are not truly "miracles." They do not measure up to what the Bible refers to as miracles.

A miracle is an event observable to the senses that exceeds all natural laws and can only be explained on the basis of supernatural power that comes from God. All of the above mentioned events do not meet the standards set by the definition. In the Scriptures, miracles are sometimes called wonders, signs, power, or works. Examples of miracles in Scripture are:

Exodus 14:21 – "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided." Moses stretched his hand out over the sea, and the waters parted. There is no way, by natural law, that the stretching out of a hand would cause winds to blow or waters to separate. This was a true miracle that came from God.

Numbers 21 – The children of Israel had been bitten by the fiery serpents and were dying. The Lord told Moses, "'Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.' So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived" (Num. 21:8-9). The children of Israel that were bitten looked on the serpent of brass and were healed. This was truly a miracle; an event made possible by the supernatural power of God.
Acts 3 –Peter and John were entering the temple at the gate called Beautiful. There was a man, lame from birth, that was laid at the gate daily to ask alms of those entering. As Peter and John were beginning to enter the temple, the lame man asked alms of them to which Peter said, "'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.' And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and anklebones received strength.  So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.  And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him" (Acts 3:7-10). As the council described this event, "indeed a notable miracle" (Acts 4:16) had occurred. Again, it is only through the supernatural power of God that this man, who had been lame from birth, received the ability to walk.

The Scriptures contain many more miracles, signs, wonders, and works of God that can only be explained by the supernatural power that God has; true miracles that God used when confirming His revealed will to man.

What Is Providence?
The word "providence" is of Latin origin (providentia) which means to foresee. Providence involves God seeing a need or desired result and bringing events to pass to accomplish the desired result. Paul, speaking of God working in the affairs of life, said, "And we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, and to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). Paul declared to those at Mars Hill, "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands….He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,…for in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:24-28). Indeed, the Scriptures speak of God over-seeing and His providential care.

The Scriptures record many examples of miracles performed by God, and which ceased after the first century. Although God does not work in the affairs of men with miracles, God works providentially, through natural laws, to bring desired results to pass.

The best example of God's providence is seen in the life of Joseph. In Genesis 37, Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, received a coat of many colors from his father. The special treatment Joseph received from his father caused his brothers to hate him. Later, the brothers of Joseph were at Shechem tending the flocks. Jacob sends Joseph to check on his brethren. As Joseph came near to his brethren, they saw him and conspired to kill him. But Judah, his brother, devised a plan to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites, and they sold him to an Egyptian, named Potiphar.

Through a series of events, Joseph is cast into prison in Egypt and he interprets a dream of Pharaoh's. As the result of interpreting the dream, Joseph is made second in command and placed over the collection of food for the famine that is coming.

When the famine befalls, Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to buy grain. When they arrive, Joseph meets them and reveals himself to them and eventually Jacob's family was reunited with Joseph in Egypt. Joseph tells his brothers, "So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt" (Gen. 45:8-9). Joseph tells his brethren it was God that put him there.

In Genesis 50, Jacob died, and the brothers of Joseph are afraid of what he will do to them. Joseph speaks to his brethren and says, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive" (Gen. 50:19-20). What a statement affirming the providence of God! The sparing of the seed of Abraham, what God had promised to His people, was accomplished. Not everything in the life of Joseph was good and pleasant. Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites, sold again, and taken to Egypt, where he spent time in prison. But God was sparing His people.

There are other examples in Scripture that show God working in the lives of men such as the Apostle Paul being delivered from death's door on numerous occasions. Should we as Christians try to determine what is and what isn't providence today? No. We need to remember verses like: Deuteronomy 29:29, "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God." Or, Romans 11:33, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" We can trust that God is working to fulfill His plan to the ultimate good of His people.

The difference in miracles and providence is not the question of "Is God working?" It is the understanding that miracles have ceased, but God continues to work in the affairs of this life to bring about His will. God works today through providence using nature, man, and other natural means to bring to pass what He desires…the spiritual good of all men. Although many will not choose to follow the path that will lead to eternal life in heaven, God will always be working for the ultimate good of those who seek Him and His will (1 Pet. 3:10-12).

David A. Cox has been preaching for the Market Street church of Christ in Athens, Alabama since 2008.