Teaching Team
Do Miracles Still Happen?
Some people in this present age ask if miracles still happen. Many are expecting the marvelous miracles that were performed by the Master, the Apostles, or even the Talmudic Sages. One only needs to look at life and realize that miracles happen everyday. These miracles range from waking up in the morning to people being healed of terminal illnesses. However, people still wonder if miracles that one would consider "extravagant" or out of the ordinary still happen in this present age or if that was something that ended centuries ago.
In this post, I want to focus on a personal favorite of mine. This is the story of the Alter Rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi Schneur Zalman zt"l, and his desire to pray the traditional Kiddush Levanah (Sanctification of the New Moon) prayers. Allow me to give a brief version of the story.
The Alter Rebbe of Chabad was arrested by the Russian government for distributing funds to his disciples in the land of Israel. While confined to the Russian prison in St. Petersburg, he would have to travel by ferry across the river to be interrogated by the Russian authorities.
Once, while traveling across the river, the time arose to recite the Kiddush Levanah prayers. The Alter Rebbe asked the man operating the ferry to stop the boat so he could recite the liturgies. However, the ferry official refused to stop. At this, the Alter Rebbe said that if he so desired, he could stop the ferry. Nonetheless, the ferry operator still refused.
The Alter Rebbe then recited Psalm 148 (part of the Kiddush Levanah liturgy) but did not proceed on to the actual blessings. The ferry operator realized something was different; the ferry was no longer moving. He soon asked the Alter Rebbe to allow the ferry to continue. The Alter Rebbe then released the boat. Schneur Zalman then asked the ferry operator to stop the boat again. The ferry operator asked what the Alter Rebbe would give him in exchange for this favor of stopping the boat. The Alter Rebbe promised a blessing. The ferry operator asked for the blessing in writing; upon receiving this blessing, he cherished it for the remainder of his life.
Yet, we should remember that the Sages of the Talmud said that one should not rely on a miracle. Here in the aforementioned story, we see that at times, Hashem allows a miracle to occur in order to sanctify His Name, kiddush Hashem. Such miracles are given to specific people at specific times. Here, in this case, a certain man obviously doubted the workings of Hashem. Therefore, Hashem used a sage who was at the time facing hardship and tribulation. Even amidst such trials, Schneur Zalman kept his eyes focused on serving God. Hashem used the Alter Rebbe of Chabad to open the eyes of a doubter and the end result was an awakening of faith.
(Credit: Brian R. Volunteer/ Researcher)
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Visitor Feedback:
I had an "extravagant" miracle happen to me when I was 15. It kept me on the right path throughout my life.
JAY | January 16, 2008 12:39 PM
I belive miracles still happen to this day! I'm only 14 years old and have seen miracles happen in my own life and family!
Yeshua Bless
Shalom
Ryan | January 20, 2008 9:05 PM
Here's a miracle that happened just last week. I was visiting a beach in Vancouver, Canada with my family. Since it was only 40F, the beach was empty, except for one man and his toddler daughter. His daughter and my son began playing together, so I asked the man where he was from, as he had an accent I did not recognize. He is from Mauritius, a small island country east of Africa, where French was his first language. He is now studying at a university in Vancouver. I mentioned that I was learning Hebrew... so was he. I mentioned that I learn Hebrew to study the Bible... so does he. As we continued talking, it became apparent that he was a self-taught Messianic with nowhere to congregate, as he was new to Vancouver. Incidentally, my wife and I had just visited the only known, small Messianic congregation in Vancouver the day before... of whom several people have French as their first language! The man and I immediately recognized this incredible chance meeting as a gift from HaShem. I quickly wrote down the contact information for the Messianic congregation in Vancouver and gave it to him.
**Toby's Response:** That is an amazing story! Baruch HaShem.
Scott | January 21, 2008 12:21 PM
This article is wonderful, very detailed and honest. It is relevant because it speaks to the very nature of the daily miracles we as believers see. These miracles can range from unexpected resolutions to seemingly unsolvabe problems, to a general refreshing of our spirit at times when we are down. The comments are great too, the one that touched me the most is about the two believers meeting at the beach in Canada.
I would like to reference two scriptures (the first may be questionable for some because it is non canonotical,and if it is an offense to some, I truly apologize.)
The first scripture is found in Esdras (the Second Book in the Apocrypha) chapter 1:35-40. The Angel is speaking to the prophet Ezra and giving him a message to the children of Israel of his time...
35: Your houses will I give to a people that shall come; which not having heard of me yet shall believe me; to whom I have shewed no signs, yet they shall do that I have commanded them.
36: They have seen no prophets, yet they shall call their sins to remembrance, and acknowledge them.
37: I take to witness the grace of the people to come, whose little ones rejoice in gladness: and though they have not seen me with bodily eyes, yet in spirit they believe the thing that I say.
I referenced this scripture because it says plainly that the Heavenly Father will reveal himself to a people who shall come...and who have seen no signs, and have seen no prophets...
I truly believe that this scripture speaks to and of us believers today, and throughout time who have come to know the Father and Messiah after the time of the Apostles; because indeed, in this day, we see no prophets, and see no signs as our forefathers did that came before us...but we call our sins to rememberance, and acknolwedge our Father in spirit
the second scripture
I would like to reference is from the very mouth of our Master himself....
"for with God all things are possible.:"-Mark 10:27
even today, we as believers have a portion of the Father and Christ's spirit, and in that, it is no small thing for the Father to work miracles in our lives rather small or great. Shalom to whomever reads this.
D.A.Fluker II | January 23, 2008 1:47 PM
When ever I hear of someone who follows Yeshua not believeing in miracle of the truly extraordinary, awesome kind, I remember what it takes to get a human being into the kingdom of heaven. Into the very Presence of the Almighty One. To me, there just are no bigger miracles than someone getting born again. I once "heard" such joy, the angels singing, while a woman responded to Yeshua's gift of Salvation at an alter call. And I could barely stand to witness it. It was so wonderful. To this day, it is my most favorite of all the spiritual events to witness. Others like manifestations of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And I have had a miraculous healing or two of my own. I've seen clouds move in two minutes giving me a sign. Bit still, I love "seeing" someone get born again. It's just plain overflowing. Almost painful. And to me, proof of true miracles.
Angela Davis | February 17, 2008 4:02 AM