17 December Joshua 3

The God Who Works Wonders

Joshua 3:5 (NKJV) And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

Psalm 77:14 (NASB) You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples.

God is a God of wonders. When we say that God is a God of wonders, we mean that He is a God who carries out miraculous works. The Lord’s wonders declare His absolute control over events, people, and powers, and they reveal His presence among His people.

Both the Old and New Testaments showcase God’s wondrous acts. In the Old Testament, two Hebrew words are translated into English as wonder: mopheth and pala. Mopheth refers to a splendid or remarkable work or miracle.

Deuteronomy 26:8 (ESV) And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders.

Pala means wondrous works or marvellous deeds, and it frequently appears in the book of Psalms.

Psalm 75:1 (ESV) We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.

The New Testament also gives reasons why God is called the God of wonders, using the Greek words thaumasios (meaning 'wonderful things'), megaleios (meaning 'signs and wonders'), and teras (meaning 'miracles' or 'mighty works').

Wonderful Things – Matthew 21:15 (ESV) But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant.

Signs and Wonders – 2 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV)

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

Miracles – 2 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV) (as above) and also Joshua 3:5 (NKJV)

And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

All miracles have important authenticating characteristics. They occur by the power of God, invoked by the command or by the prayer of the person to whom they are attributed. That is, they are not random events of chance that occur by themselves. The miracles of Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, Paul, and Peter happened in response to their prayers and requests.

Miracles are God’s providence for man. The primary purpose and ultimate goal of any godly miracle is twofold: the manifestation of God’s glory and the good of man.

From the days of Egypt to the ministry of Jesus and the apostles, God has consistently revealed Himself as the God who works wonders. His miracles are not random acts but deliberate displays of His glory, His love, and His sovereign power. They are signs that point us to His presence and invite us into deeper faith and obedience.

Joshua's call to "sanctify yourselves" reminds us that God’s wonders are often preceded by our preparation—our willingness to set ourselves apart for Him. When we live in expectation, in faith, and surrender, we position ourselves to witness His miraculous intervention.

Let us never lose our awe of the God who still does the impossible. He is not only the God of the past—He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The God who parted the Red Sea, healed the sick, and raised the dead is still working wonders among His people today.

So, we prepare our hearts, we lift our faith, and we boldly declare: “You are the God who works wonders”