Introduction

What do Biblical accounts, like Jonah and the big fish, Samson and Delilah, the floating axe head, the handwriting on the wall, and the three young men in the fiery furnace, all have in common? They all demonstrate supernatural deliverance from seemingly impossible situations. Many people have a problem with miracles, but it seems to me that common sense suggests they are possible (since they pale in comparison to the greatest miracle of all: God creating the universe out of nothing). History shows that miracles have occurred many times, extending into the present day. Each of these accounts features God stepping in supernaturally to alter natural laws to achieve His purposes.

Elisha and the floating axe head (2 Kings 6)

This is the account of Elisha, the prophet, helping several apprentice prophets build a training facility alongside the Jordan River. As one of the young men cut down a tree, the axe he was using broke, and the iron axe head flew into the river. It immediately sank to the bottom, and he exclaimed: “Oh, my master, it was borrowed!” (2 Kings 6:4–5 CSB) Elisha saw that the young man was in severe distress over the event, so he caused the axe head to float to the surface so it could be retrieved. This minor miracle testifies to God’s mercy and care for small matters that occur in people’s everyday lives.

The handwriting on the wall (Daniel 5)

In this account, a mysterious, disembodied hand appears during a royal feast and writes a message of judgment on a stone wall, predicting the fall of a kingdom. The message meant that King Belshazzar’s days as king of Babylon were numbered. His deeds had been weighed and found wanting. God pronounced judgment on him because of his pride, blasphemy (desecrating holy vessels), and failure to honor the true God. That same night, he was killed, and his kingdom came to an end due to its conquest by the Medes and Persians. This account clearly demonstrates God’s sovereignty over all earthly rulers.

The young men in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3)

This is the account of King Nebuchadnezzar throwing three faithful Jewish young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, into a superheated furnace because they refused to bow down to worship the golden statue of him. God miraculously saved them from being consumed by the fire. The king saw a fourth man with them in the furnace and remarked that he looked like a “Son of God” in the flames. The young men’s unwavering faith in God and their defiance against idolatry are vividly demonstrated in this account. God’s divine protection in impossible circumstances is portrayed in this account, proving He is trustworthy.

Samson’s superhuman strength (Judges 13–16)

In this account, Samson was endowed with supernatural power to defeat the Philistines and rescue the people of Israel from their rule. He was obsessed with the Philistine woman Delilah, and after her intense pressure, he finally revealed the secret of his strength (never cutting his hair) to her. As he lay asleep in her lap, she cut his hair, and as a result, he was captured, blinded, and forced to grind grain for his enemies. In prison, Samson prayed for strength to avenge himself and Israel against the Philistines. God answered his prayer by giving him the strength to destroy the Temple dedicated to the false god Dagon by pushing down its pillars and tearing it apart. This final act of God’s mercy on Samson showed His power over false gods. Samson’s life and failures serve as a reminder that God works through imperfect people and that true strength comes from Him.

Jonah and the great fish (Jonah 2)

Jonah was a rebellious prophet who tried to escape God’s plan for him to preach repentance to the people in the wicked city of Nineveh. He fled to the port of Joppa and boarded a boat sailing for Tarshish (in the opposite direction from Ninevah). God intervened by stirring up a storm so violent that the sailors said someone must be thrown overboard to appease the gods. Jonah volunteered for this mission and was immediately thrown overboard. As soon as he hit the water, a giant fish swallowed him, and he was in its belly for three days. After he repented from inside the fish, he was vomited up onto dry land, went to Nineveh, and delivered God’s warning, and the city repented, sparing them from destruction. Jonah was furious about this because he wanted to see them all punished, but instead, he was taught a great lesson about the extent of God’s mercy even to Israel’s enemies.

God gave Jonah three days inside the fish to allow him time to reflect and repent, demonstrating His mercy and sovereignty. He gave Jonah a second chance to fulfill his divine mission to preach to the people of Nineveh. He cared about their potential salvation. God used the great fish as a tool for divine redirection, proving His power to save and bring Jonah back to His plan.

Conclusion

Not only do these accounts demonstrate divine reward for faith and obedience in the face of severe trials, but they also illustrate the dire consequences of disobedience. They prove God’s sovereignty by demonstrating His power over creation and human rulers, showing He is in control, not earthly powers. In essence, these are all powerful narratives highlighting God’s miraculous power to save, judge, and teach His people.