The Supernatural and The Natural
I love to see miracles and to hear about miracles from other people. I believe God works in supernatural ways all around us all of the time. In fact, I believe that many miracles go unnoticed, because people are not looking for them. God is able to do whatever He wants to do, whenever He wants to do it. Sometimes, He chooses to do things supernaturally, while most of the time, He does things naturally.
Consider, Joshua 5:12 as an example of the supernatural and the natural. It tells us that on the day after the Israelites ate the produce of the land of Canaan, the manna ceased. The next year they ate the food of the land of Canaan, instead. Can you imagine the shock it was to them? They had gathered the manna and eaten it every day for 40 years. Then, one morning, it was gone. I am glad it doesn't say that they complained about the change, but I would imagine that some people did have trouble with this change. They had grown accustomed to God's supernatural provision of food. Now, they would have to gather the food of Canaan. Later on, they would have to plant their own crops and work for their food. What a huge change!
Why does God work this way? There are times when He knows we need a supernatural miracle to meet our needs, because there is no human way to accomplish His will. In those cases, He devises the perfect miracle for us. It was impossible for the desert to support 2 million people with food, so God gave them manna. However, the land of Canaan was the land flowing with milk and honey. The first year they could eat what the Canaanites had planted. Then, they could plant their own crops, because God was giving them the land. All three of these ways are wonderful provisions from God. One is supernatural, and two are natural. God can work either way to meet our needs.
Some people want God to work a supernatural miracle every time. They do not want surgery. They want to be healed. They do not want a job. They want a check in the mail. They do not want to pray for a spouse. They want God to deliver one to their door. We must not get stuck on requiring God to work miracles. I have found that He seldom does for us what we can do ourselves. Therefore, He uses natural means to provide for us. When He does, we have to work for part of it ourselves. It is still a great blessing from God, even if we do not experience a miracle.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Joshua 7-9
Consider, Joshua 5:12 as an example of the supernatural and the natural. It tells us that on the day after the Israelites ate the produce of the land of Canaan, the manna ceased. The next year they ate the food of the land of Canaan, instead. Can you imagine the shock it was to them? They had gathered the manna and eaten it every day for 40 years. Then, one morning, it was gone. I am glad it doesn't say that they complained about the change, but I would imagine that some people did have trouble with this change. They had grown accustomed to God's supernatural provision of food. Now, they would have to gather the food of Canaan. Later on, they would have to plant their own crops and work for their food. What a huge change!
Why does God work this way? There are times when He knows we need a supernatural miracle to meet our needs, because there is no human way to accomplish His will. In those cases, He devises the perfect miracle for us. It was impossible for the desert to support 2 million people with food, so God gave them manna. However, the land of Canaan was the land flowing with milk and honey. The first year they could eat what the Canaanites had planted. Then, they could plant their own crops, because God was giving them the land. All three of these ways are wonderful provisions from God. One is supernatural, and two are natural. God can work either way to meet our needs.
Some people want God to work a supernatural miracle every time. They do not want surgery. They want to be healed. They do not want a job. They want a check in the mail. They do not want to pray for a spouse. They want God to deliver one to their door. We must not get stuck on requiring God to work miracles. I have found that He seldom does for us what we can do ourselves. Therefore, He uses natural means to provide for us. When He does, we have to work for part of it ourselves. It is still a great blessing from God, even if we do not experience a miracle.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Joshua 7-9