God directs, influences and controls events in this world. Yet, sometimes, he just allows things to seemingly operate on their own and it feels as though he allows his established laws to rule the day. After all, the laws of gravity, moral consequences and thermodynamics are among thousands of laws God created for good reason. He is a God of order.
Nevertheless, many of us have had times when it seemed apparent that law and coincidence had less to do with what was happening in our lives than God happening in our lives. In those cases, some form of direct intervention appears undeniable. Providence, fulfilled prophecy, miracle and unexplainable conclusions pop up in unexpected ways. I could give a long list of circumstances in my life where the odds are insurmountably against coincidence in favor of God.
For me, there have been times when an exact financial need was met by an exact financial supply on the exact date needed from either an unexplained or unexpected source. There have been times when I prayed for the impossible and the impossible occurred. There have been times when finding something desperately needed was less likely than finding a needle in a hay stack. And yet, it was found without much effort at all. In fact, it found me. There were times when a miracle was needed and the laws in which we so consistently depend were suspended or over-ridden our counter-acted in a moment. These God-invasions have been clear to me and have profoundly humbled me, producing deep gratitude to God. Miracles every one.
If you are like me, you are appreciative of God’s occasionally stark intrusion into the world and the suspension of the very laws that he established for good reason. We should be appreciative when the scales tilt unexplainably in our favor. However, if you are like me (and you may not be as I suspect many are not), you also don’t want to experience these things all of the time. I might be odd on this one. But, I have reasons to appreciate the overwhelming presence of order complimented by the occasional experience of the miraculous. In fact, I have several reasons to enjoy the predictable, though sometimes arduous and slow consequence of natural laws even when the scales do not tilt in my favor. Among the reasons, I like to learn patience. I also want to experience what others experience who do neither believe in nor experience the miraculous. I like to enjoy the order of God’s universe and not feel as though I am singled out for special favors all the time. I don’t really want a silver spoon in my mouth or to be perceived as having one. I want to identify with others who have experienced disappointment but perhaps unlike others found a way through. I prefer being able to identify with those for whom everything does not go their way. I appreciate the opportunity to demonstrate faith in God even when the 12th hour has come and gone and things did not work out as planned. In fact, I don’t know if it is possible to have a deep, transforming faith without experiencing the full consequences of the laws God has put in place. I suspect my faith would be fragile and I would be shallow if God became a genie to grant wishes upon command. It seems to me that it is in times of struggle and even failture when faith becomes stretched and genuine. It is in those times where faith is centered more in God than in God’s ability. That might seem like a small distinction. But, it is a significant one.
I know that desire to see the miraculous, but in limited quantity and special circumstances might sound odd. But, it just seems to me that if God made a world in a certain way to operate, I should be inclined to enjoy it and believe there are many benefits in reveling in it. Don’t get me wrong. I love the miraculous as much as anyone. I love bragging not only on what God is capable of doing, but what he has done. But, I also love trusting not just to get an answer, but because trust is good.
I like the balance that I seem to experience in this view of life. On the one hand, I am reminded of God’s undeniable, invasive care for me in special circumstances when he breaks through with obvious signs of his personal attention to my detail. On the other hand, I deeply appreciate knowing that God is in control even when it seems as though he is inattentive- that everything does not need to work out my way to work out best.
So, I pray and appreciate these two sets of outcomes. I often feel like Jonah must have felt when he was swallowed by the fish. I feel as though I am praying from the belly of a fish that has already devoured me and not much else is left to do but remain consumed. So, Jonah maximized his prayer in praise though the end seems to have not just come near, but come in full. I feel as though I have already been consumed and the flood has already overtaken me. But, there is no bad time to pray. I have learned to pray with thanksgiving and joy whether the miracle comes or never appears. And, as with Jonah, even though the answer seems to have passed and the disaster has overtaken, and the prayer is no longer about a deliverance future, but a deliverance past (Jonah 2:1-9), God still commands an unexpected answer. Jonah 2:10 says simply, “And the Lord commanded the fish and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”
I relate to his prayer and relish his outcome. In fact, even as I mention the story, I am sure many reading this are convinced that Jonah’s story is nothing more than an allegory or a legend with no grounding in history. They dismiss this event altogether and will always see only the coincidence and venerate the laws of nature. Those are the same ones who only see life’s outcomes as a series of coincidences and accidences and expected outcomes to the physical laws. And, there are others who see the story as nothing more than a series of personal miracles benefitting Jonah that are hoped to be replicated in their lives today. These miss the point of the story altogether just as much as the other. It was not about God’s laws or about Jonah’s miracle, but about God and his compassion that reaches the most desperately lost and seemingly unredeemable in the world. It is about God and what God desires for his world. But, those who deny the miracle, will see nothing other than poppycock. The other will only see the miracle and the personal gain from it.
For me, I smile at the miracle, but focus on the God of compassion. I am committed to continue to pray in every situation a prayer of praise to God. I will relish in his salvation. I will be content to drink fully whatever he sees best for me to experience. And, if He does as He often has done, he will command something unusual to happen from time to time to accomplish his ends and draw attention to Him. He commanded a fish to spit Jonah out. He commands unusual deliverance for me me even when it is not the point of the story at all. I love the way God balances it, not tilting it in my favor but in His favor, His glory and for my good.