Understanding divine intervention

By Rev Devon Dick

Recently, Peter Bunting, minister of national security, expressed the belief that divine intervention has a role in crime fighting, by way of touching the hearts of a wide cross section of Jamaicans. From the various responses ,it is clear that there is a misunderstanding of what divine intervention is.

Divine intervention occurs when God works through nature. It is stated that, for the Red Sea to have parted in two as a natural phenomenon, it means that God intervened in facilitating the Israelites escaping the pursuing Egyptians by making the partition occur at the time of need for the Jews. God intervenes through nature for the occurrence of good.

Divine intervention happens when God works through history. There are those who feel that emancipation in 1838 was because of God's intervention through the enslaved who declared themselves free and protested slavery. God was working through Sam Sharpe who believed in equality based on his reading of the Word of God.

Divine intervention occurred through the prophets of Israel who revealed God's will and the consequences of following evil. When preachers speak as the oracles of God, God is intervening in the affairs of humans.

And finally, God intervened through Jesus, the Christ. As stated in Hebrews 1:1-2, "In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son ... ." Jesus makes known God's will, purpose and demands. And Jesus was sent into the world to reveal the mind of God, the wisdom of God and the ways of God. Jesus had an intimate knowledge of God which neither Moses nor any of the ancient prophets had possessed. God appearing as flesh in Jesus was the most significant intervention of the divine in the affairs of humans.

final authority

Divine intervention comes through the Word of God, the Bible. God's written word communicates God's will and purpose which requires obedience. The Bible is the final authority on matters of conduct in order to solve problems. Also, God intervenes in our lives through other human beings. God reveals what he wants us to do through other persons.

Divine intervention comes through the Holy Spirit. In 1860 there was the Great Revival in Jamaica when persons' hearts were touched and they turned to God and there was a difference in Jamaica.

God can intervene without or above nature, which is a miracle. A miracle is a suspension of the natural law, for example, the birth of Jesus, which was without the agency of a male, or Jesus turning water into wine.

When we seek God's intervention in our affairs, it means we need help over and above our abilities. It also means a willingness to learn from God.

It is good to remember Isaiah 55:8 which states, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. The plans and purposes of God are far above those of people. We pray because we recognise that our efforts alone will not change human hearts. And opinion shapers should not make every problem seem so easy when, in fact, the crime monster is a complex creature. And, therefore, divine intervention properly understood is quite in order.

PS. In last week's article, 'Azan should pack it in', I stated in the conclusion that Richard Azan should resign from the office of justice of the peace. The evidence in the article did not strongly support that conclusion and, therefore, I withdraw that call.

Rev Devon Dick, PhD, is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew. Send comments to columns@gleanerjm.com.