Using Biblical Examples to Illustrate Divine and Supernatural Aspects
The Bible frequently uses examples of divine and supernatural phenomena to illustrate God's power, character, and interaction with humanity. These examples range from direct manifestations of God's glory to the operation of spiritual forces and the consequences of human sin.
One prominent category of supernatural illustration involves "wonders" and "signs." The prophet Joel speaks of God showing "wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, fire, and pillars of smoke" (Joel 2:30). This imagery is echoed in the New Testament, where Peter quotes Joel, stating, "I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke" (Acts 2:19). These wonders serve to demonstrate the power of the "Most High God," as Daniel recounts, "It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me" (Daniel 4:5). The Psalms also encourage trust in God by celebrating His mighty power, particularly as illustrated in His dominion over the natural world, including "terrible and wonderful exhibitions" [9]. The testimonies found in Scripture, which speak of God's mind and will, are considered wonderful due to their divine authorship, content, and beneficial use [10].
Conversely, the Bible also illustrates supernatural aspects through practices condemned as contrary to God's will, such as divination and idolatry. Divination is defined as foretelling future events or discovering secrets through the aid of superior beings or non-human means [2]. Scriptural examples of divination include consulting teraphim (images or idols), which are mentioned in 1 Samuel 15:23 and Ezekiel 21:21 [1, 2]. Idolatry, which is forbidden in passages like Exodus 20:2-3, involves bowing down to images, worshipping other gods, or even worshipping the true God through an image [3]. These practices are presented as sinful acts, often described as "vanity" [5].
The concept of sin itself is also illustrated with supernatural implications. The apostle John states that "He that committeth sin is of the devil," contrasting this with those who do righteousness [6]. Augustine, as cited by Bengel, clarifies that while one can become a child of the devil by imitating him, the devil does not "beget" or "create" in the same way God does [6]. Sin is not merely a human failing but has a spiritual origin and consequence. All human beings are born with a sinful nature, and while the godly fight against it, the wicked indulge it [4]. Deliberate sins are often committed with an insolent or arrogant attitude, representing rebellion against God [7]. Paul emphasizes the universal sinfulness of both Gentiles and Jews, stating that all are "under sin’s power" and cannot find favor with God through their own actions [8]. God's anger, in this context, is not an emotional outburst but a necessary response to sin [8].
Sources
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Teraphim — images; idols”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Divination — is a "foretelling future events, or discovering things secret by the aid of superior beings, or other than human means." It is used in Scripture of false systems of ascertaining the divine will. It has been universal in all ages, and all nations alike civilized and savage. Numerous forms of divination are mentioned, such as divination by rods, (Hosea 4:12) divination by arrows, (Ezekiel 21:21) divination by cups, (Genesis 44:5) consultation of teraphim, (1 Samuel 15:23; Ezekiel 21:21; Zechariah 10:2) [[442]Teraphim]; divination by the liver, (Ezekiel 21:2”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Idolatry — Forbidden -- Ex 20:2,3; De 5:7. Consists in Bowing down to images. -- Ex 20:5; De 5:9. Worshipping images. -- Isa 44:17; Da 3:5,10,15. Sacrificing to images. -- Ps 106:38; Ac 7:41. Worshipping other gods. -- De 30:17; Ps 81:9. Swearing by other gods. -- Ex 23:13; Jos 23:7. Walking after other gods. -- De 8:19. Speaking in the name of other gods. -- De 18:20. Looking to other gods. -- Ho 3:1. Serving other gods. -- De 7:4; Jer 5:19. Fearing other gods. -- 2Ki 17:35. Sacrificing to other gods. -- Ex 22:20. Worshipping the true God by an image, & c. -- Ex 32:”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 29 (introduction): Trust in God is encouraged by the celebration of His mighty power as illustrated in His dominion over the natural world, in some of its most terrible and wonderful exhibitions. (Psa 29:1-11) Give--or, "ascribe" (Deu 32:3). mighty--or, "sons of the mighty" (Psa 89:6). Heavenly beings, as angels.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:125: PE.--The Seventeenth Part. PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful,.... The Scriptures, which testify of God, his mind and will, are wonderful both with respect to the author of them, the things contained in them, and the use and advantage of them. They give an account of the wonderful works of creation; of their author and matter; of the manner, order, and time of their being wrought: they relate many wonderful events of Providence, both in a way of mercy and judgment; they declare several surprising miracles, wrought by Moses and others, and exhibit many marvellous t”