Shayla: Why won’t God allow me to prove His existence with signs and wonders? Why won’t He allow me to miraculously heal the sick?

Meforshim:

Though Israel saw many signs and wonders in Egypt, how many of our people actually had the authority to make the signs come? One? Two?

Throughout our people’s long history, God has favored us with many miraculous things, raising the dead, making axe heads float, stopping and starting rain, making shadows go backward, temporarily stopping the earth’s rotation…but how many people actually performed the signs and how many watched? What’s the ratio? 1:5,000,000?

Even in the early church, how many people does the Bible record manifesting these miraculous signs? Certainly, the number is under twenty out of tens of thousands of believers.

Hashem gives resources as He sees fit, each as the Master deems is able to handle.

• Matthew 25:14-15b HCSB "For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own slaves and turned over his possessions to them. (15) To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one--to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey.

It is not up to us to demand these things from Him.

• Isaiah 29:16 HCSB You have turned things around, as if the potter were the same as the clay. How can what is made say about its maker, "He didn't make me"? How can what is formed say about the one who formed it, "He doesn't understand what he's doing"?
• Romans 9:20-21 HCSB But who are you--anyone who talks back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?" (21) Or has the potter no right over His clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?

We don’t walk up to a booth, pay a fee and demand a certain spiritual product from the Lord. The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts at the Lord’s leisure. Paul treats this matter specifically saying,

• 1 Corinthians 12:28-31 HCSB (28) And God has placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next, miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages. (29) Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? (30) Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in languages? Do all interpret? (31) But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

And what was the “even better way”? The whole next chapter is dedicated to the gift of love. Love is the greatest gift because it is when we love that we are most like God. We are not necessarily like God when we perform miracles because even the devil and his minions can do tricks.

• Matthew 24:24 HCSB False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
• Mark 13:22 HCSB For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

No – we demonstrate that we are His children when we love one another. Loving is something the devil is remarkably unable to do.

• John 13:34-35 HCSB "I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. (35) By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
• John 15:12 HCSB This is My command: love one another as I have loved you.
• John 15:17 HCSB This is what I command you: love one another.
• Romans 12:10 HCSB Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.

God does not require His stewards to be miraculous. He requires them to be faithful.

• 1 Corinthians 4:2 HCSB In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one be found faithful.

God does not require us to give what we do not have. He was perfectly happy with the widow's tiny gift (Mark 12:42-43). It was not the gift but the faithfulness and love demonstrated by offering what she had to the Lord. Moses had nothing but a stick to offer. Yahweh took that stick and used it to beat the world's greatest military superpower of the time. If you carefully examine the parable of the talents (Matthew 25) you will see that the servant who had three talents and used them wisely was given exactly the same compliment as the servant who used his five wisely.

So if Adonai has given you a coat, be willing to share it with someone. If He has given you no coat and no shoes, instead electing to give you a strong back and good health – then find a way to put whatever you DO have to His use. Perhaps, if He finds you faithful He will say:

'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master's joy!' (Matthew 25:21)