WHY MIRACLES ALONE DO NOT BUILD FAITH

SEEING is believing.  That is the view of many. Some say that they would believe in God if he were to reveal himself in some miraculous way.  Perhaps that is so,but would such belief lead to genuine faith? 

Consider the Israelites  Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. The Bible shows that they were eyewitnesses of these awe-inspiring miracles from God: the ten plagues upon Egypt, the escape of the nation of Israel through the Red Sea, and the annihilation of the Egyptian Pharaoh and his military force. (Exodus 7:19-11:10; 12:29-32; Psalm 136:15) Korah, Dathan, and Abiram also heard Jehovah speak from heaven at Mount Sinai.  (Deuteronomy 4:11, 12) Yet, not long after these miracles occurred, the three men instigated a rebellion against Jehovah and his appointed servants. -Numbers 16:1-35; Psalm 106:16-18.

About 40 years later, a prophet named Balaam also witnesses a miracle. Even angelic intervention did not deter  him from siding with God's enemies, the Moabites . That miracle notwithstanding, Balaam went ahead and took a stand against Jehovah God and His people. (Number 22:1-35; 2 Peter 2:15, 16) Balaam's lack of faith, however, pales alongside that of Judas Iscariot.  Despite having been a close companion of Jesus and an eyewitness to an extraordinary array of miracles, Judas betrayed Christ for thirty silver pieces. -Matthew 26:14-16, 47-50; 27:3-5. 

The Jewish religious leaders were also aware of Jesus' many miracles. After he resurrected Lazarus, they even admitted: "This man performs many signs." But did the sight of the now-living Lazarus soften their hearts and give them faith?  No, indeed. Instead, they schemed to kill both Jesus and Lazarus! -John  11:47-53; 12:10. 

Even direct intervention by God failed to produce faith in those wicked men. While Jesus was in the temple precincts on one occasion, he prayed aloud:  "Father, glorify your name."  Jehovah replied in a voice out of heaven:  "I both glorified it and will glorify it again." Yet, this miraculous event did not produce faith in the hearts of those present. Says the Bible:  "Although he had performed many signs before them, they were not putting faith in him." -John 12:28-30, 37; compare Ephesians 3:17.

Next time: Why Miracles Did Not Build Faith

From the Watchtower, 1997