ToddGaddisBook_October2023_8.5x5.5.indd

I’d believe it if Scripture said Jonah swallowed the fish! It’s not difficult to believe if you believe in a God of miracles,” said Billy Graham. 1 That said, we should never take miracles for granted or use them as a license to withhold human effort.As Saint Augustine said, “Pray as though everything depended on God.Work as though everything depended on you.” “Why don’t we see miracles today like they experienced in the times of Elisha and Jesus? John Piper answered that by say ing, “There were fewer miracles in the Bible than you probably think, and more miracles today than you probably know.” 2 Perhaps, in our modern, advanced society miracles are more subtle and under the radar, though that’s not always true. Also, reports of dramatic miracles tend to come in from ex tremely unreached parts of the world to gain attention and set the stage for a movement of God. Such divine intervention made a tremendous impact in Elisha’s day. We dare not end this chapter without exploring this histor ical event from an allegorical standpoint, examining its spiritual representations. Describing the humiliating times he was experi encing, Job said, “They abhor me and stand aloof from me,And they do not refrain from spitting in my face, Because He has loosed His bowstring and afflicted me,They have cast off the bridle before me” (Job 30:10,11, emphasis added). Job is speaking symbolically when saying God has loosened his bowstring. Literally speaking, this would make shooting an ar row much more difficult. Spiritually, Job is saying that his spiritual strength was zapped and his standing in the community had disap peared. By casting off the bridle, people around him are saying and

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