Why Are There So Many Strange Things in the Bible?

Talking donkeys. Giant fish. Floating axe heads. The Bible contains supernatural events that can sound strange to modern ears.

In this episode of FaithFuel, Bob Shaw talks about why supernatural passages in Scripture should not weaken our faith, but instead remind us how much greater God is than human understanding.

This devotional explores miracles, the limits of human understanding, the power of God, fantasy literature, eternity, and why an infinite God should not be reduced to what feels explainable to us.

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Transcript

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Talking donkeys, a giant fish swallowing a man, an axe head floating in water. Yeah, the Bible definitely has some unusual things in it. I'm Bob Shaw, and this is Faith Fuel. If you spend enough time reading Scripture, eventually you'll run into something that makes you stop and think, wait, what? And for some people, that becomes a stumbling block because the Bible contains supernatural events that don't fit neatly into normal human experience. Sometimes people approach the Bible expecting God to operate only within human understanding. Jeremiah 32, verse 17 says, O sovereign Lord, you made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Because if God created the entire universe out of nothing, why would the supernatural suddenly become difficult for him? Sometimes people accept the idea of an all powerful creator, but then struggle with the idea that he could do extraordinary things within his own creation. But the God of the Bible is not limited by the natural world he created. And maybe the supernatural parts of Scripture are supposed to remind us of that. The truth is, we are finite people trying to understand an infinite God. We live inside space and time, and we only see a small part of reality. For now we see in a mirror dimly. There are just things about God we simply are not going to fully grasp on this side of eternity. And if an infinite God fit perfectly inside human understanding, he probably wouldn't be much of a god. If you've ever read fantasy novels, a lot of the gods in those stories are basically just powerful humans with flaws, limitations, and tempers. I'm so glad God is not like that. The God of the Bible is beyond us, greater, holier, eternal. Who would want a God small enough to fit neatly inside the human mind? Now that doesn't mean Christians ignore reason or stop thinking critically, but it does mean we recognize that God's power and authority go far beyond human limitations. If God wanted to make a donkey speak, he could. He did. And if he wanted to part the sea, he could. And he did. And if he wanted to create a world with talking creatures like the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe, he could certainly do that too. That would actually be kind of cool. Sometimes I think the supernatural parts of Scripture are meant to stretch our understanding of who God is instead of shrinking him down to what feels explainable to us. And if creation itself is already this incredible, really makes you wonder what heaven must be like. Lord, thank you for being greater than our understanding. Help us trust you even when there are things we don't fully understand in Scripture. Remind us that your power, wisdom, and authority go far beyond human limitations. And help us approach your word with humility, awe, and faith. In Jesus' name, Amen. If there are parts of the Bible you've struggled to understand before, don't be afraid to wrestle with those questions and keep seeking God through them. And if Faith Fuel has been encouraging your faith, be sure to follow the podcast and share it with somebody else who could use encouragement too. And if you've been enjoying Faith Fuel, I'd really appreciate a quick rating or review wherever you listen. It really helps more people find the podcast. I'm Bob Shaw. Peace and joy.