While there is no single agreed-upon number, a reasonable estimate for clearly narrated, individual miraculous events in the Old Testament is between 70 and 100.
Let's explore why is that:
1. The Cycle of Transactional Faith
What you call a "transaction" is often termed "transactional faith" or "consumer faith." It's the approach that says, "God, if you do X, then I will do Y." The relationship is conditional and based on immediate need, not on a desire for the person of God Himself.
The Exodus Generation: The Prime Example
The Israelites in the wilderness are the ultimate case study.
· Miracles as Deliverance: They cried out for deliverance, and God responded with the Ten Plagues and the Parting of the Red Sea—some of the most spectacular miracles in history.
· Immediate Return to Unbelief: Just days later, at Marah, they grumbled about bitter water (Exodus 15:24). Soon after, they grumbled about food (Exodus 16:2-3). Despite seeing God's power, they defaulted to fear and complaint.
· The Transaction: Their attitude was, "You got us out here, now what? Feed us. Water us. Entertain us." The miracles did not create trust; they merely raised expectations for God to perform on demand. They saw the miracles as a show of force for their benefit, not as an invitation to know the Miracle-Worker.
2. The Demand for a "Show"
This is when people treat God's power as a spectacle to be consumed, like a magic trick. The motive is not faith but fascination, or even testing God.
The Pharisees: In the New Testament, Jesus confronts this directly. They repeatedly demand a "sign from heaven" (Matthew 16:1, Mark 8:11). They weren't seeking truth; they were seeking to trap Him or to have their intellectual curiosity satisfied. Jesus called this an "evil and adulterous generation" that seeks for a sign (Matthew 12:39), because it bypasses the need for repentance and faith.
King Saul: His decline began when he grew impatient and performed a sacrifice himself instead of waiting for Samuel (1 Samuel 13). He wanted the result of the ritual (blessing for battle) without the relationship with God that gave the ritual meaning. The miracle or blessing became an end in itself, disconnected from obedience.
3. Why This Mindset Prevents Lasting Faith and More Miracles
God's primary goal is not to make our lives comfortable but to make us holy—to transform our character into the image of Christ. This requires a relationship built on trust, not transactions.
· Miracles Can Become an Idol: If God performed miracles on demand, we would worship the miracles, not Him. We would seek the gift rather than the Giver. The Israelites were quick to worship the golden calf, a symbol of the power that saved them, instead of the invisible God who saved them.
· It Bypasses the Need for Faith: The writer of Hebrews defines faith as "confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). If we had constant, undeniable miraculous proof, faith would be unnecessary. We would be operating on sight. God values faith because it is the currency of a trusting relationship.
· It Doesn't Transform the Heart: A forced belief based on spectacle is shallow. Pharaoh is the clearest example. After each plague, his heart was hardened. The miracle didn't soften him; it only exposed the rebellion that was already there. True, lasting change comes from a willing heart responding to God's love and character, not from being overwhelmed by His power.
4. The Contrast: Miracles as an Invitation to Relationship
The miracles that do happen are often "signs" (the Greek word semeion used in the New Testament). A sign's purpose is not to be the destination but to point to something greater.
· For Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18): The fire from heaven was not just a show. It was a sign pointing to the answer to Elijah's prayer: "Let these people know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." The miracle was an invitation for Israel to return to a covenant relationship.
· For Elisha and the Widow's Oil (2 Kings 4): The miracle provided for her physical need, but it also revealed God's compassionate character as a protector of the vulnerable and a keeper of His promises. It was an invitation for her to trust Him more deeply.
· The Ultimate Purpose: Every miracle in the Bible ultimately points to God's character—His power, His compassion, His sovereignty, His faithfulness. They are meant to draw people into a deeper knowledge of who He is, leading to worship and trust, not just a temporary solution to a problem.
Conclusion: The "Still, Small Voice"
The climax of this theme is in 1 Kings 19. After the spectacular miracle on Mount Carmel, Elijah is fleeing for his life. God reveals Himself not in the wind, earthquake, or fire (the big, showy miracles), but in a "still, small voice" (or a "gentle whisper").
God's preferred method of communication is intimate relationship, not overwhelming spectacle. He wants people who will listen for His whisper in the quiet moments, who will obey when there is no visible sign, and who will love Him for who He is, not just for what He gives.
The reason there are not more miracles is that God is not in the business of putting on a show for consumers. He is in the business of lovingly and patiently building a family of faithful children who seek His face, not just His hand.
