Monday: The Living God of Wonders
Daily Lesson for Monday 13th of October 2025
Read Joshua 3:6-17. What does the miraculous crossing of the Jordan tell us about the nature of the God whom we serve?
The crossing of the Jordan River is described in Joshua 3:5 by the Hebrew word niphla’ot, “miracles, wonders,” which usually refers to the mighty, supernatural acts of God that demonstrate His uniqueness (Psalms 72:18, Psalms 86:10). Later, the Israelites meditated on these acts and, as a result, praised the Lord (Psalms 9:1) and proclaimed Him among the nations (Psalms 96:3). The plagues in Egypt (Exodus 3:20, Micah 7:15), the crossing of the Red Sea, and God’s guidance in the wilderness (Psalms 78:12-16) were recounted as such wonders.
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The authors of the Bible knew and testified to the fact that the God who created the world was never limited or constrained by His creation. Nothing is impossible (Heb. “too wonderful”) for Him to accomplish (Jeremiah 32:17). His name and His nature are wonderful (Judges 13:18), and He is beyond our comprehension.
In contrast with the gods of the other nations, who cannot save (Psalms 96:5, Isaiah 44:8), the God of the Bible is a “living God,” active and alive, whose followers can trust Him in anticipation of His interventions on their behalf.
The prophet Zechariah used the same term (from the same root as niphla’ot) as he envisioned a future for Israel after the Babylonian exile. He saw that Jerusalem would be fully rebuilt with old people sitting in the streets of the city and boys and girls playing there. To the seemingly incredulous inhabitants of the capital still displaying the signs of its destruction, Zechariah declared: “ ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts? Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem’ ” (Zechariah 8:6-8, ESV).
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Read Luke 18:18-27. How does Jesus’ answer to His disciples encourage you to trust God with what seems impossible? |
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The most compelling evidence of God’s presence is not the temporary suspension of the laws of physics but rather tha change that God can make in a human heart resulting in unselfish love. All too often we spend a lot of time defending the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, or the fall of Jericho’s walls, without paying attention to sharing God’s love with others, especially those we don’t like within our horizon of human contact.
Miracles, signs and wonders may be quite spectacular, but they are exceptional and often temporary. The Jordan flowed again, healed people eventually die. Changing a selfish. Self-centred heart may take time – it ame even be the work of a lifetime – but it is the miracle that God wants to perform on our lives.
If we focus on the spectacular, there is a serious danger that we will become deceived by false sign-makers and wonderworkers, who can grab our attention way from Jesus.
I am repeatedly reminded of the comments made by Jesus:
Our miracle that we can be a living part of is preaching the Gospel in an atmosphere of love and compassion.
“And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:23–24 ,NIV).
Jesus rebuked the inhabitants of Capernaum regardless of the numerous miracles performed there, they failed to believe. In steady of the miracles producing works of faith, they simply became spectacles to be observed without spiritual change. Likewise, God performed great wonders for the benefits of the Israelites and yet they remained stiff-necked. Miracles and signs are meant to lead to repentance and strengthen our faith. True faith trusts God even when there are no miracles.
Miracles and wonders may cause misplaced trust. Miracles can draw attention to the spectacular rather than to the God who performs them. People may follow signs instead of the Savior.
”Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs” (John 6:23, NLT).