Without Miracles

Glenys Hicks posted two blogs, with paintings of two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah. Ever heard of them? It’s right there in Exodus:

And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. (Exodus 1:15-17 KJV)

Think of the Bible stories you’ve heard from your youth. Most of them do not have to do with miracles, but with people doing what they know is right. Doing God’s will.

The results of their well doing is not always what we would like to hear. Joseph heard God, shared his dreams with his brother and ended up in a pit in Dothan. In the second act he rose to prominence, was faithful to his employer (though Potiphar’s wife was not) and ended up in prison. In a third, he saved his people and Egypt. All the while within God’s will.

The book of Esther doesn’t even mention the Lord’s name, yet one of my favorite verses tells of His plans. If we aren’t where He wants us, another will take our place.

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14 KJV)

Among the best examples are what we call the minor prophets.

The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. (Joel 1:1-3 KJV)

Out of these dozen books, most were men who answered God’s call to admonish His people. Jonah did need a bit of miraculous persuasion, however. These men were called to deliver God’s word to His people. They include a judgment speech, giving an accusation, along with a call for repentance, then a focus on the Lord’s provided salvation. I thoroughly enjoyed these books this year as we studied through the Bible.

Paul’s letters tell us of many examples of people following God’s good news. How about Priscilla and Aquila?

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. (Acts 18:24-26 KJV)

We could fill page after page of additional examples. Can we follow them? Can we accept that our own lives are lacking, will be called in judgment, heed the call to repentance then follow the words God has provided?