The Mathematics of Miracles

No matter our spiritual beliefs, most of us believe in “miracles” at some level. We might state it in different ways, but it all boils down to seeing something happen that we didn’t believe could happen. To me, it’s a God thing.

Recently, in my study time, I have been reading Joshua 3-4 in the Bible. For whatever reason, I’m not getting past it. Instead, I’m continuing to learn new things every day. Today, I want to take a glimpse at the mathematics of a miracle, and how often the math doesn't make sense to us. Let’s jump:

#40 - This is the number of years Joshua had to wait to see the vision in his life come to pass. Why? Because some well-meaning folks around him could see the vision, but were unwilling to carry the weight of the vision.

#10 - Ten! 10=40! Due to 10 others who had an unwillingness to chase the vision, it cost Joshua and many others forty years! There is an art to the timing of chasing big visions in life, but we don’t want to miss the flow for those who don’t see it as possible. We always want to bring everyone along, yet sometimes people will disqualify themselves from the great things that are ahead. The weight of the vision is enough to carry; we can’t carry the burden of others along with that weight.

#3000 - The Lag. When the priests were called to step into the river, the others behind them were about 3000 feet back; there was a lag. The lag was intentional so that the people could see where God was leading them, at the same time to remain in the areas of responsibility that they had been granted.

When we lead, many times, there will be some lag time. This doesn’t need to discourage us at all; it simply needs to bring into focus how we are leading. When pursuing something great, there are those who will be next to you, those who will lag, and eventually those who will pass you and have to wait for you on the other side. Our focus has to be on all the tiers in which the vision rests. If we get distracted by just one group, we’ll lose the opportunity to experience the “miracle”.

#?!?!?! - I don’t know if you have ever stepped into the flood waters like these folks had to, but it is overwhelming! It is easy to lose your perspective when you feel like you're about to drown. Yet, here the priests were told to “rest; stay in a holding pattern” while others passed over in safety towards the vision.

What do we do when we feel like we are drowning? Do we rest, stay the course? Or do we panic, get ourselves to safety, but leave others behind, where they don’t experience the vision in front of them? Get your floaties, tread some water, and don’t let the miracle of your vision get drowned out by the overwhelming circumstances around you.

#12 - Vision is about legacy for generations to come, not just us having a “great now”.

A person from each family was chosen to lay down a stone in remembrance of what happened in this season. It is so important for us to remember the times we got to experience the impossible. And, to have it written down in a way that generations to come can see what happened and chase the impossible.

I was just in a conversation with a new friend, and we were talking about having an expectant mindset. I was sharing that when my family and I set out chasing an impossible vision, I made a “deal with God”. (Not sure that it works that way) I had told God that we would pursue this vision “if” he provided a million-dollar gift in the first year. That is unheard of! After the first year, we did not see the gift. I learned my lesson, and we kept going.

What did happen was that a large corporation gave us a 120,000 SF building to meet in for free! They were still making payments on the building, taking care of the utilities for us, and all the landscaping. We were there for 20 months, and it was a $1.5 million gift! It was beyond our wildest dreams. Which brings me to the last number. But first, write down 12 times in your life when the impossible happened.

#16 - When the priests stepped into the water, the river continued to flow by, but upstream the water began to back up. The wall of water was 16 miles away at the City of Adam. If the people were looking in front of them towards the vision, they might not have seen where the miracle was taking place.

Do we trust that the impossible is happening even when we can’t see it? If the miracle is taking place in an area unseen to us, do we begin to dilute the level of vision? Do we allow non-visible activity to become a distraction? Or do we keep going forward?

The Mathematics of Miracles will never add up; that is why they are miracles. I love strategy! But we can't strategize the impossible. We simply have to take what is thrown at us, deal with every number, and keep doing our part.

Share the impossible you are trusting for in life? And, at least 12 times, you saw the impossible. (Make it bullet points, not long paragraphs that I probably won't read)