THE SCRIPTURAL IDEA OF MIRACLES. 



67 



which cannot be so described. Students will classify these 

 differently. 



The flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah ; the 

 leprosy of Miriam and of Gehazi ; the swallowing up of Korah ; 

 the death of Ahab in consequence of the bow drawn at a 

 venture ; the block in the Jordan which enabled Israel to go 

 over dryshod ; these may have called for no special agency, but 

 they were timed to happen at a particular moment in connection 

 with certain other events. But in the case of Aaron's rod 

 which budded, or Balaam's ass that spoke, or the Pillar of Fire , 

 or the signs granted to Hezekiah and to Jonah, we see events 

 which cannot be altogether accounted for by known forces. 

 Occasionally the means whereby an effect was produced are 

 recorded, as in the case of the wind bringing the locusts, or 

 drying up the Pied Sea. Sometimes the thing wdiich is done 

 is wrought through delegated human agency, or through 

 inspired human Avords of prayer, as in the case of the prolonged 

 day in Joshua's time,* and the descent of the fire in answer 

 to Elijah, and the coming and going of the plagues of Egypt 

 in connection with the intercession of Moses. 



We have lost the original idea and intention of miracles. 

 They are never regarded in the Bible as Hume regarded them 

 as violations of the laws of nature. The three Hebrew words 

 used of them in the Old Testament and the three Greek 

 words in the New Testament show that they are manifes- 

 tations of ]jovjcr (" mighty works "), that they call forth 

 wonder (which is the true idea of the word " miracle "), and 

 that they are signs attesting the mission of the person who 

 does them. The first definite miracles wrought by the hand of 

 man are probably those wrought by Moses ; and they were his 

 credentials. It is only fair to the Biblical miracles that they 

 should be studied in their completeness, as a long series 

 culminating in the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are 

 associated w^ith spiritual teaching, and they are recorded by men 

 who give full proof of their honesty and candour. Moreover, 

 there is nothing grotesque about them, nor are they like fables 

 or fairy tales. This is peculiarly the case with the wonderful 

 works of Christ, and with the other special events associated 

 with His mission. 



* This does not necessarily seem to belong to the list of miracles. It 

 is pai tly a quotation from a poetic account in " the book of Jasher," as is 

 clear from the passage, Josh, x, 13. See also Habakkuk iii, 11. — Ed. 



