Seeing The Supernatural In The Natural

What do you see in this photo of melting snow on a mountain?

God has chosen to reveal Himself through the natural. "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). However, do we see God in the natural? We should.

Some years ago, my wife's grandfather was diagnosed by the best physicians as being terminally ill with cancer. The doctors told the family that Grandpa would only have a month or so to live. I prayed about how I should pray for him. God said, that I was not to pray for his comfort, but rather to give him a scripture, lay hands upon him, a pray for his healing. I called a friend and asked him to go with me to the hospital and pray for Grandpa's healing. I was simply obedient to what God had told me. A few days later the doctors discovered that Grandpa didn't have cancer. I called my friend to tell him the good news. He wasn't at all surprised. It was what he expected. However, when I shared the story with a boss, she responded, "Well, the doctors must have been wrong in their diagnosis." My friend saw God in the situation, but my boss chose not to see God in the story. Grandpa lived many years thereafter.

The bothers of Joseph took him and sold him as a slave to a caravan of Midianite merchants going to Egypt. In Egypt, Joseph became a servant of the Pharaoh, then was falsely accused, put in the dungeon, and forgot about for years. Then God raised Joseph to a position of authority. When the brothers of Joseph came to Egypt to buy grain for food, Joseph revealed himself to them. The bothers immediately feared for their lives. In the natural, Joseph could snap his finger in revenge and his brother's would be killed. However, Joseph saw a bigger picture which included God. He told his brothers, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Genesis 50:20). What do we see when we face the abuse of others? Is God in the picture?

When Joshua led the Israelites into the land of Cannan, he came up against a mighty, walled city. The Israelites were not warriors, but they faced a mighty fortress. "And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour" (Joshua 6:2). God challenged Joshua to look beyond the natural to see what He could do in the situation. What do you see when you face the walled fortresses in your life? May God grant to you the eyes to see what God can do.

Elijah had told king Ahab that there would be no rain until he would say that there would be rain. God honored the words of Elijah. There was a great drought that came upon the land. Then one day Elijah prophesies of the coming of rain. He sends his servant to go to look toward the sea. The servant returned and says that he saw nothing. Elijah tells his to return seven times. Finally, Elijah's servant returns for the seventh time with the words, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand" (I Kings 18:44). Elijah knew that it was the hand of the LORD and that time was short before a great rain would fall. He told Ahab to go before the rain overtook him. Elijah was able to see the supernatural work of God in the natural. May God give you eyes to see His work in the natural.

When the king of Syria came up against the king of Israel with a great army, the servant of Elisha became very fearful. "And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (II Kings 6:17). What the servant saw in the natural was a great army of the enemy, but in the spiritual he saw a greater army of God. May God grant you eyes to see in the spiritual the greatness of the power of God.

In the New Testament, in John chapter Six, a great crowd of people followed after Jesus to hear his teachings. The number was 5,000 men plus women and children. Jesus challenged his disciples to see in the spiritual realm. The disciple immediate surmised that they didn't have enough money to come near the amount needed to feed the large crowd. However, Andrew may have demonstrated some faith by telling Jesus that there was a boy who had five barley loaves and two small fish. Even so, Andrew raised question as how that small amount of food could feed such a large crowd. Of course, Jesus took the loaves and fish, break it and blessed it. Then he gave it to the disciples to distribute to the crowd. After everyone receive enough to be filled, the disciples took up twelve baskets full the fragments. I have heard men try to explain the miracle by saying, "Well, everyone just put something into the baskets rather than taking a portion out." How stupid? Just think about it, if that would have happened, that may have been even a greater miracle .... getting everyone in the crowd to give a portion of their own food and still being full after each person had eaten. What do you see when you face various needs in your life? Do you just see the need, or do you see an opportunity for God to miraculously meet that need?

If you have not committed your life to Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, I would challenge you to see the supernatural in the natural and commit your life to Jesus right now. You may want to read the article: Searching For Truth.

Paul prayed, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1:17-23). This is also my prayer for you. Amen.