Everyday and Ordinary

What would it have been like to actually experience some of the miracles found in the Bible? What would something like that do for your faith? While I love the miracles of the New Testament and would have loved to see some of those, I find the miracles in the Old Testament to be a little more grandiose and attention grabbing. God did some things that one simply could not forget.

I would have loved to have seen the parting of the Red Sea. The people find themselves standing with the sea on one side and the army of Egypt on the other. The odds are not exactly in their favor. Moses makes a little speech, steps to the edge of the water, raises his staff, and the waters part. In Exodus 14:21 it says, “…all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry ground.” That’s sensational! It’s not very difficult to evaluate that situation and come to the conclusion that their God had made a way where there previously had not been one. That would be something that would provide confidence that God was present and acting on behalf of His people.

Another incredible act of God was the fire from Heaven on Mount Carmel. Elijah claims to be the last of God’s prophets left alive and he challenges the 450 prophets of the false god, Baal, and the 400 prophets of Asherah. He clearly does not have the numbers. The goal is to prove which God is truly God. Each group was to build an altar and prep a sacrifice, and the God that answered by fire would be validated. The prophets of Baal and Asherah take their turn and nothing happens. Elijah sets up his sacrifice and soaks it with water, just to rub it in, and God responds. In I Kings 18:38 it reads, “Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifices, the wood, the stones, and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.” That is epic! Once again, it would be fairly easy to watch something like that take place and walk away knowing that God was present and acting on behalf of His people.

But, what about in the everyday and the ordinary? What happens when the water returns and the fire burns out? In the case of the people of Israel, once memory begins to fade they begin to question the presence and provision of God. I would argue the same is true for us. When we have major victories, or experience massive demonstrations of God’s power and presence in our lives, we are quick to praise and pursue Him. However, when we walk to the everyday and the ordinary we begin to wonder where God is. The answer is He is right where He was when He acted in amazing and extravagant ways, in our midst, acting on our behalf, drawing us to Himself.

In Matthew 28:20 Jesus promised, “…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” In Hebrews 13:5 the encouragement provided to Joshua is afforded to us. The author writes, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” The same God who parted the sea and dropped fire from Heaven is with you at home, at school, at work, at the store, and everywhere in between. The God who was present in the extravagant is present in our everyday ordinary lives.