Miracles contradict natural laws—why should we believe ancient miracle claims when we don’t see them today?

Definition and Nature of Miracles

Miracles, by their very description, are extraordinary occurrences that cannot be explained merely by natural processes. Unlike regular events that follow the patterns we observe in day-to-day life—patterns often called “natural laws”—miracles serve as signs pointing to a higher, transcendent cause. These events are not random but are purposeful interventions revealing an ultimate power outside the confines of normal physical operation. Scripture frequently presents them—as with the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus), or Jesus walking on water (Matthew)—to illustrate divine power and emphasize specific truths.

From a biblical standpoint, “natural laws” are not impersonal forces limiting what can happen; rather, they are consistent observations of the normal way God upholds the world. As Psalm 19:1 notes in part, creation itself “declares the glory of God.” When miracles occur, they do not violate the nature of God’s order; they simply reflect circumstances in which the same God who orders nature sometimes works in an exceptional way.

Historical Context and Reliability

Miracles in Scripture often appear in distinct timeframes—particularly in moments pivotal to God’s redemptive plan. For instance, the powerful signs accompanying Israel’s exodus from Egypt (Exodus), the works of Elijah and Elisha that confirmed prophetic authority (1 Kings; 2 Kings), and the public miracles in the ministry of Jesus and the early apostles (Gospels; Acts). These periods show clusters of miraculous events because they served as divine validation of a crucial message.

Archaeological discoveries and manuscript evidence offer strong support for the trustworthiness of these biblical records. For example, the Dead Sea Scrolls contain fragments consistent with Old Testament texts, preserving intricate details across centuries. The compilation, copying, and distribution of the New Testament documents likewise demonstrate careful preservation. These historical confirmations do not prove miracles happened by themselves—they do, however, bolster the reliability of the accounts in which miracles are described.

Consistency with Scripture

Throughout the Bible, miracles are intertwined with God’s character and redemptive narrative. They are never merely flashy demonstrations or magic tricks. In John 14:11, Jesus says, “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves.” Here, miracles serve as evidence pointing to Jesus’ divine identity and mission.

Far from contradicting Scripture, miracles fulfill promises and prophecies within it. From Genesis 1:1 stating, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” to Hebrews 11:3 affirming that “the universe was formed at God’s command,” the notion of divine activity shaping and superseding natural processes is a consistent theme.

Philosophical Possibility of Miracles

Some claim miracles violate immutable physical laws, suggesting they cannot occur. However, what we call “laws of nature” describe typical patterns in a world God sustains. These patterns do not eliminate the possibility of a Creator interfering for a specific purpose any more than an architect is prevented from modifying a building after it is constructed.

Philosophically, if one accepts that an eternal, all-powerful Being brought space, time, and matter into existence, then miracles become logically coherent. The question then shifts to whether reliable evidence supports any particular miraculous claim. This is where historical, testimonial, and experiential data become significant. When multiple lines of evidence converge to confirm an extraordinary event—such as the resurrection of Christ—closed-minded dismissal of miracles becomes less tenable.

Modern Claims and Examination

Though ancient miracles drew attention because of their monumental scope, modern claims of divine intervention, healing, and inexplicable occurrences continue. Some are documented in medical literature, where spontaneous recoveries lack sufficient natural explanation. Others are witnessed by missionaries in remote regions, with cultural or sociological factors preventing widespread publication.

These modern accounts, while not always accompanied by the same level of scrutiny accorded to biblical miracles, remind us that God is not constrained to a specific era. The challenge is to discern genuine events from unverified rumors. Yet, credible contemporary cases—investigated by researchers or reported with medical corroboration—demonstrate that the miraculous cannot be presumed extinct.

Reasons for Apparent Rarity

A common frustration arises from not witnessing these dramatic interventions daily. Three considerations emerge:

1. Purpose: Miracles in Scripture often served to authenticate critical messages or new phases in God’s plan. If they were constant, they could lose their intended impact and become ordinary.

2. Universal Revelation: God continues to reveal Himself through creation’s complexity, moral consciousness, the historical testimony of Scripture, and the ongoing witness of those whose lives are transformed. A miraculous sign is not the only channel for faith.

3. Timing: The biblical record itself reflects that miracles sometimes cluster around specific events. Other times throughout history, God may act more subtly. This pattern can lead to the perception that fewer miracles happen in certain eras or places.

Support from Intelligent Design

Scientific discovery has revealed an intricacy in life’s building blocks that many see as best explained by an intelligent cause. While such research does not, on its own, prove specific miracles, it does undermine the idea that everything arises from blind, undirected processes. If a designing Intelligence created the universe, then intervening in that creation is wholly plausible.

Even the geological record—often interpreted within a framework of millions of years—can be considered from an alternate viewpoint that highlights rapid processes or cataclysmic events (such as flood geology). These approaches underscore the view that the Creator can use both ordinary and extraordinary means to accomplish His will.

Resurrection of Christ as the Central Proof

The central miracle claim in Christian faith is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Early documents—dated within a few decades of the event—show an unbroken pattern of belief that He rose bodily from the dead (see 1 Corinthians 15). The transformation of early skeptics and opponents, alongside the emergence of the Christian movement in hostile territory, suggests that they were convinced by eyewitness encounters.

As with all miraculous claims, the resurrection can be examined historically: the empty tomb, the radical shift in the disciples’ behavior, and the explicit testimonies of those who claimed they had seen Christ alive. Such verifiable data strengthens the case that this event defies natural explanation, pointing instead to divine action.

Conclusion

When assessing ancient miracle claims, several factors guide us: the reliability of historical sources, consistent testimony across manuscripts, corroborative archaeological findings, and the philosophical possibility of an all-powerful Creator. Though miracles go beyond what we regularly see, they do not contradict a world believed to be under the guidance of a God capable of upholding and occasionally intervening in its operation.

Miracles, both then and now, serve as powerful reminders that the Creator’s authority is not confined to the familiar processes of nature. For those seeking clarity, the challenge is to weigh the historical and philosophical arguments, pay attention to credible modern accounts, and test whether these extraordinary claims align with the broader evidence of a purposeful, intelligently designed creation. As Romans 15:4 reminds us in part, “Everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction,” amplifying how ancient miracle accounts continue to carry a profound message for the present.