I recently had a conversation with someone about cooking techniques. Some folks will measure to the exact recipe. I am not like those people. I take liberties in my cooking and add a little more or less, depending on taste, mood, or availability of ingredients. This usually works out for me, but not always. In comparison, God’s miracles follow the same pattern of using what or who is available, adding a little more or less, depending on the need. Thankfully, we do not need to worry about His mood!
There is evidence of these measuring techniques in the miracles recorded in the Bible.
Parting of the Red Sea
Exodus 14:21 says, And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
Notice that the wind was strong. God measured heavily as needed to create the dry land where the water once was.
Crossing the Jordan River
Another time God decided to make the land dry in a unique way, He changed up the measuring technique. Instead of sending a strong wind, He simply blocked the source of water feeding the river. Joshua 3:16 says, That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
Handful of Meal and a Cruse of Oil
In the story of the widow woman who fed Elijah, God chose to measure in smaller increments. I Kings 17:14 says, For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. The widow woman was not given a storehouse full of meal and oil to sustain her and her son. Rather, God chose to measure a daily portion for them as long as they needed it.
Pot of Oil
In another recipe involving oil, God chose to provide the oil in large measure, rather than the daily provision. This was necessary due to the circumstances involving the creditors. The widow had a pot of oil. God used those that were available to measure out a full miracle, as we see in II Kings 4:3-4: Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. God measured a miracle that allowed the debt to be paid and sustained the family in verse 7: Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
The Shunammite Woman’s Son
I have prepared many dishes that failed, or died, in my kitchen. I thought I had followed the directions, but alas, it was not meant to be. Perhaps, there was a greater plan in place. I see this in the story of the Shunammite woman’s son. The ingredients for this miracle seem odd, as does the process, but God had a miracle to measure out for the Shunammite woman. She was a great hostess for Elisha, and when he wanted to repay her kindness, God allowed him to predict the birth of her son, despite her barren condition. A few years later, her son died, and Elisha again was used to provide a great miracle only God can measure out. II Kings 4:35 reports the outcome: Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
Jairus’ Daughter
In Mark 5:41, we see a different application of the recipe: And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. Jarius’ daughter had died, but Jesus came to her house, held her hand, and spoke life back into her.
Five Loaves and Two Fishes
In the story of the five loaves and two fishes, God used what and whom He had to measure a mighty miracle. The lad was willing to contribute his lunch for Jesus. John 6:9 says, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? I love how Jesus responded by showing rather than telling. He measured out portions to the disciples until the crowd of 5,000 had eaten …as much as they would. This all-you-can-eat meal graciously measured out from a small lunch was provided by a willing lad.
All throughout the Bible, we see evidence of God measuring out miracles. I love that He gave us these true stories of miracles, but I love even more that He provided us recipes for obtaining our own miracles. Luke 6:38 says, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. I love the thought that God is willing to measure the miracles for me in such generous portions, freely doled out as evidenced in II Peter 1:4: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:…
by Melissa Caperton
