Sometimes I wish the Bible did not tell these miracle stories as we hear in Elisha's story today. We hear these stories of people on the verge of poverty being provided for by a miraculous flow of oil, of the dead being brought back to life, of the barren being given life and we think: Why doesn't God still do those things today? After all, we've all known someone who has died far too young; we all know there are starving people in the world today; we all know that there are women and couples who deeply desire a child and yet cannot conceive.
So, where does that leave us? Well, part of our Truth is that these miracles do not always (sometimes ever) happen this way in the 21st century. But, God still provides miracles....miracles of restoration of life, miracles of abundance and provision, miracles of new life where once there was none. However, these miracles may look vastly different than the ones in Scripture:
Restoration of life: An addict chooses the road of rehabilitation and chooses a whole new way of life that restores him back to his family, new friends, and a shining future. The once "dead to us" is restored to an abundant life.
Abundance and provision: A village in Kenya, through the abundance God has given to others, shares in the abundance by building water cisterns that provide clean water where before there was not enough water. The villagers grow forests of trees that will not only change the ecosystem around them, but will also provide the means for more financial security.
Miracle of new life: Parents and families open their hearts and homes to the orphaned and those in foster care. Families are made in many ways. Medical knowledge and technology has grown in such a way that barren couples can now, often, conceive a child.
Sometimes, like Paul, we need the scales to fall from our eyes in order to see and experience the restoration, abundance, and new life that God provides all around us. All thanks and glory be to God.
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