Are Bible miracles literal events?

TL;DR:

Bible miracles are meant to be literal events. The literal understanding of miracles reveals God’s sovereignty over creation and His intentionality to reveal Himself through specific people.

In summary, a proper exegetical analysis confirms that biblical miracles are to be taken literally. Miracles validate God's messengers and emphasize His authority over creation. While some events may have natural explanations, they still demonstrate God's divine influence and timing. In the New Testament, God's power is similarly revealed through Jesus's ministry and the apostles' miracles, confirming their authority as messengers of the gospel and God’s authority over creation. Understanding these miracles deepens our understanding of God's love and His desire for intimate communication with humanity. Seeing miracles as literal events reinforces our faith in His sovereignty and confirms His active presence in our lives today.

from the old testament

A proper exegetical analysis of the stories of miracles shows that not only are they to be taken literally, but miracles performed by people have a specific purpose that is revealed throughout the entire Bible.
Miracles confirm God’s power. The creation account in Genesis 1–2 is written to be taken literally. When Balaam's donkey spoke (Numbers 22:28–30), God literally opened her mouth to speak. The plagues of Egypt showcased God's supremacy over nature and Pharaoh's gods (Exodus 7–12). The parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) affirmed God's deliverance and protection of the Israelites. These events literally happened and served to confirm God's authority and sovereignty over all creation.
Miracles are God's way of validating His messengers. Moses was affirmed as God's chosen leader through miraculous signs like the burning bush (Exodus 3:1–6) and the signs performed before Pharaoh (Exodus 7–11). God parted the Jordan River for Joshua, affirming his leadership (Joshua 3:14–17). Elijah's confrontation with the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:17–40) revealed he was a true prophet who worshiped the One true God. Elijah and Elisha also demonstrated their authority as prophets through miracles such as raising the dead (1 Kings 17:17–24; 2 Kings 4:32–37), multiplying food (2 Kings 4:42–44), and calling down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:20–40). Daniel's interpretation of dreams and visions validated him as a prophet (Daniel 2, 4, 5). These people literally performed miracles through God’s power, revealing their authority and faith in God.
In the case of Pharaoh's magicians, that power was demonic (Exodus 7:11–12), but it was still supernatural and meant to be taken literally.
Not all miraculous events in the Bible were completely supernatural. It is entirely possible that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was caused by geological activity along a natural fault line in the area (Genesis 19:24–25). It's also conceivable that Jonah's survival in the belly of a whale (or whatever large animal swallowed him) is biologically possible without divine intervention (Jonah 1:17). Of course, the timing of both the earthquake and the whale are miraculously convenient; and of course, God is the One who divinely prompts the laws of nature to act.

from the new testament

God’s power is revealed in His miracles in the New Testament as well. The Holy Spirit caused a virgin girl to be pregnant with the Son of God (Luke 2). Throughout the gospels, Jesus performed numerous miracles, demonstrating God's power over sickness, nature, and even death. Examples include turning water into wine (John 2:1–11), healing the sick (Mark 1:40–45), calming the storm (Mark 4:35–41), and raising the dead (John 11:1–44). In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples with visible signs of flames and the ability to speak in other languages (Acts 2:1–13). These miracles were literal events where God broke the laws of nature to reveal His power and sovereignty.
Miracles also validate His messengers in the New Testament. Jesus bestowed upon his apostles the ability to perform miracles, such as healing the sick (Acts 3:1–10), raising the dead (Acts 9:36–43), and casting out demons (Acts 16:16–18). These signs affirmed the authority and message of the apostles as they spread the gospel. Throughout Acts, the apostles performed miracles of healing and deliverance, affirming God's authority and the truth of their message. Paul healed the sick (Acts 28:7–10), delivered people from spiritual oppression (Acts 16:16–18), and even survived supernatural incidents like being bitten by a venomous snake without harm (Acts 28:1–6). These miracles that contradict the laws of nature validated Paul's ministry and teachings, emphasizing God's presence and authority through him.

implications for today

People usually reject miracles because the miraculous goes against their own experiences in the world. In more developed, scientifically minded societies, we tend to rely on the natural sciences to explain what we experience. This is fine as far as it goes. But we have to remember that if God exists, the natural laws are an incomplete method to analyze the cosmos. If the Creator of the universe is a God who is outside of our realm of being, it's perfectly natural that He should influence His creation in a way that contradicts what that creation can understand. In which case, it would be foolish to ignore how He communicates with us.

God communicates with us because He loves us and desires to be known intimately. Through biblical miracles and His Word, God reveals His character, His will, and His plan for humanity. He communicates through His Word and the revealing of the Word, Jesus Christ (John 1:14). Miracles are one way in which God reveals His character to us. Additionally, God speaks through the Holy Spirit, who guides and comforts believers (John 14:26). God’s communication with us is not only to impart knowledge, but also to deepen our relationship with Him. God's desire to be known demonstrates His love for us and His longing for a personal and intimate connection with each of His children (Jeremiah 31:3). Embracing the reality of biblical miracles affirms God's active presence in our lives, drawing us closer to Him as we seek to understand and follow His purposes.

understand

Biblical miracles affirm God's supreme authority over creation.
Miracles validate the authority of God's chosen messengers throughout the Bible, affirming their role in proclaiming His Word.
Miracles reveal God's supernatural intervention and communication with humanity. God wants to be known.

reflect

How does your belief in the literal reality of biblical miracles impact your view of God's sovereignty and power?
Have you ever experienced or witnessed something that you would consider miraculous? How does that shape your understanding of biblical miracles?
How do biblical miracles affirm or challenge your faith in God's active presence and intervention in the world today?

engage

The miracles described in the Bible have been doubted in recent centuries. Thomas Jefferson cut every story of a miracle out of his Bible. Many modern scientists reject the Bible because they believe everything in the universe is explainable by the scientific method, and situations spontaneously brought about by a magical power cannot exist. Many Jewish scholars say the miracles found in the Bible are symbolic or represent a vision. Others claim that miracles represent the perception of a scientifically unsophisticated author. People’s doubting of miracles as literal events does not mean they are not.
A naturalistic worldview typically views miracles as events that defy natural laws and, thus, are either dismissed as improbable or reinterpreted as natural phenomena yet to be fully understood. This perspective tends to prioritize scientific explanations over supernatural or divine interventions in explaining extraordinary events. Yet, we need to remember that not everything can be explained by nature or the physical.
How can we reconcile scientific explanations with the supernatural events described in the Bible, particularly regarding miracles?