It is so kind of you to drop in! Thank you for your clarifications. I’m also very encouraged that you believe in the resurrection. I’m sure that is not very common opinion in the circles you’re normally a part of.

I agree with you that God’s timing as well as his supernatural intervention are both different “types” of miracles. And although I didn’t put it in the original blog post, I also liked your explanation of the crossing of the Jordan. The main disagreement I had was with Sinai and with the plagues. You mention in the book that the plagues are all really the result of one natural cause—the polluting of the Nile, which starts a chain reaction of the various plagues. To argue that the plagues were miracles of timing, I believe, is to read in to the text. It seems clear that with each successive plague God’s action is causal. He causes natural phenomena to occur on behalf of his people. In a sense, he is de-creating the land that he originally created (Gen. 1-2).

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed your book and hope that you continue to write in this area. I’ve recommended it to many others who love the Bible and like to work through difficult problems. If you’re ever in Louisville, KY I would love to meet you!

Blessings,
Josh

I believe the first type of miracle is God’s normal way of working, and we should be careful not to play it down. For example, in the explanation of the crossing of the Jordan that I give in my book, I have the earthquake-induced mudslide that stopped the Jordan flowing (there is evidence for this in more recent similar events at the Jordan)as occurring at the exact time the Israelite priests reached the water’s edge. How was this miracle of timing achieved? I suggest a key factor was God prompting Joshua to go a little faster, or a little slower, so that the Israelites arrived at exactly the right time. Hence Joshua was involved in this miracle of timing. He was a key agent in this miracle. However God could only use him if they were in close contact. Are there not important lessons for us today in this? We can be the agents in miracles of timing today, but we need to be in close touch with God for him to be able to use us. I hope this helps. Colin

I’d also encourage you to read Job 1-3 and 38:1-42:6 to see more of God’s self-testimony. Copy this link into your browser and read with an open mind and heart: http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Job+1. You and I both need every bit of truth that is found here. We don’t need luck…we need God!

Please keep this dialogue open…it would be great to keep talking…

The Bible is true. It is veritable based on facts and eyewitness accounts, not to mention its own truth claims of full inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Totally believable, totally substantial.

If you’ve read the book you might understand the difficulty in following Humphreys’ explanation of the plagues. He gives considerable weight to chance and spontaneous “timing,” which is probably understandable from a naturalistic evolutionary standpoint.

Is God willing to prevent evil? Absolutely, when people repent and turn their hearts to him (cf. Jonah). Is he unable to? No! “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble” (Prov. 16:4). Then he is omnipotent, not a malevolent, passive God who does not interact or care about his creation.

Is he able? Yes, able to call a people to himself and turn hearts from sin to salvation; able to execute justice on the wicked. Is he willing? Yes, willing to save or destroy to bring glory to himself through Jesus Christ. Did he accomplish this in the Exodus? Yes, by justly punishing Pharaoh and the Egyptian people for slavery and child murder (Ex. 1). In bringing the Israelites out of Egypt he set in motion a redemptive paradigm – salvation through judgment for the glory of God. Why call him God? Because he is, and has clearly proven himself to be God (see Isaiah 46-48 for God’s own reasons why he is God).