God’s Sovereignty Over Miracles
Sometimes I am shocked at how amazing God can be. I know I’m supposed to “get it” because I’m a preacher. But, God still has the power to make me go “wow”! Here is one of those truths that amazes me. If I am going through good times, God can use that for His glory. But, if I’m going through tough times, God can use THAT for His glory as well. God uses the good times and the struggles for His glory. Amazing.
In Acts 9:36-43, we read about a young lady who is a follower of Christ named Tabitha who is also known as Dorcas. Tabitha was a godly lady who impacted people with her love, kindness and acts of service. People loved Tabitha. But, sadly, Tabitha got sick and died.
When Tabitha died, her friends immediately sent for Peter to come. As Peter arrives to the house where Tabitha was, all of her friends were in mourning and showing Peter the many beautiful things that Tabitha had made for them. After asking everyone to leave the room, Peter knelt and prayed, and Tabitha was raised from the dead. Peter called everyone else back into the room and presented Tabitha to them alive.
Remember, we started by talking about how God uses good times and tough times. It would seem that this is definitely a “good time.” Where is the “tough time”? We read this account in Acts 9, but as recently as Acts 7, a faithful servant of God and proclaimer of the gospel named Stephen also died. Why would God choose to bring Tabitha back to life and not bring Stephen back to life? Here is my deep, theological answer to that question: I don’t know.
But, I do know that it is God’s choice to make. He is sovereign over when and where miracles will happen. If He knows bringing Tabitha back to life will bring Him more glory, then He brings her back to life. If He knows that allowing Stephen to step into eternity and not bring Stephen back to life on earth, then God does not bring him back to life.
Part of acknowledging that God is God means trusting Him to make the right decisions on how to act when times are good and when times are tough. Were Tabitha’s friends and family excited that God raised her from the dead? Of course. Were Stephen’s friends and family sad that God did not choose to raise him from the dead? No doubt. But, in faith I say that God got both decisions right.
When we go through good times of God doing miracles, we should thank Him, praise Him and serve Him. When we go through tough times of God choosing not to do the miracle we wished He would, we should trust Him, praise Him and serve Him. God is sovereign over the miracles He chooses to do.
(Responses/questions? jeff.perkins@mbclife.org)