Let me just say it plainly: There’s no shortage of Bible stories that show the awesome power of God because they all do. It’s easy to spot God’s might in the parting of the Red Sea, the ten plagues, and the great flood, right? Yet the most moving demonstrations of God’s power—the kind that shakes a person to the core—are often more personal, witnessed by only a handful of people who are forever changed because of it.
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In This Article
Recognizing God’s Power on the Page
Before we go on a treasure hunt for examples of God’s power in the Bible, think about the appropriate response to encounters with God. Do you get shivers when you read about God fighting for his people, or is it more like Nice—yawn—is it time to eat yet?
None of us were there to witness the water lifting the ark or the look on the servant’s face after Jesus healed his ear. We certainly didn’t stand at the foot of the cross to witness Jesus’s torment as he died in my place.
But someone was there. Scripture is full of eyewitness accounts, written by people who walked with Jesus, saw the miracles, and experienced God in action firsthand. They weren’t yawning when it happened, or when they wrote about it later.
Let their responses help you recognize and be moved by the power of God.
Awe & Terror: Encounters With God in the New Testament
#1) Matthew 17:1-13: Jesus’s Transfiguration
“When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.”
Mathew 17:6
The interesting thing about this story is the timing of the disciples’ reaction. They weren’t moved when Jesus turned into a blinding body of white. Nor did they react when Moses and Elijah showed up (which sounds pretty startling, if you ask me).
But when God spoke, they hit the deck.
We serve a God so powerful, his very words can shake a man to his core. Chew on that for a bit if you ever doubt God’s ability to act in your life.
Does God seem silent to you? Check out Turn Down the Volume! How to Hear God’s Voice.
#2) Matthew 14:22-32: Jesus Walks on Water
“‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear.”
Matthew 14:26
How would you react if you went out on the lake one stormy day and saw someone walking across the water toward you? Put yourself in the disciples’ shoes for a moment and consider this story as if you were sitting in that boat witnessing it yourself rather than listening to a retelling around the Sunday school table.
Jesus would still walk on water for you today if that’s what you need.
See how Jesus is still a part of your life now: Seeking Jesus: How to Get Closer to God Right Now
#3) Matthew 7: Jesus’s Sermon
“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching…”
Matthew 7:28
A sermon might not sound like the most riveting display of power to those who are used to zoning out every time the preacher steps into the pulpit on Sunday mornings, so this should make you pause. What did these people witness that astounded them so much? Jesus wasn’t performing any miracles here. He was simply teaching.
I think the problem is we only look for power in flashiness when the real power is in Jesus’s words and conviction. Go back and read through the entire Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), viewing it through the eyes of someone who hasn’t heard these words a thousand times before.
And be amazed by his teaching too.
Be moved by God’s words in light of his love: How to Really, Truly Know God Loves You
#4) Matthew 27:45-54: The Death of Jesus
“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’”
Matthew 27:54
Don’t miss the significance of what just happened in this scene. It’s not that God’s beloved son is dead. It’s that, through his death, the terms changed. The separation between God and man was removed (evidenced by the tearing of the temple curtain). Death, though seemingly the victor here, was actually defeated and people came out of their graves.
This was no ordinary death. Jesus’s death has the power to give you life, making it one of the best examples of God’s power in the entire Bible. Don’t overlook it in your quest for something flashier.
Jesus’s death and resurrection still matter today: What is the Most Difficult Christian Belief to Accept?
#5) Mark 4:35-41: Jesus Calms the Storm
“Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Matthew 4:41
Okay, this is a pretty popular Bible story. But I include it here because, whereas the other examples demonstrate God’s power over life and death, this story is where he uses it to control the very elements of nature. It was so amazing, the disciples were terrified by it!
#6) Matthew 9:1-8: Jesus Heals—And Forgives—a Paralytic
“When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God…”
Matthew 9:8
Wee a theme here? Words like terrified, amazed, and awed imply a stronger reaction than just being scared, surprised, and intrigued. We can safely assume that if we saw God act, we would be terrified, amazed, and awed, too.
Examples of God’s Power in the Bible: Old Testament
#1) 2 Kings 6:8-23: Elisha Traps Blinded Arameans
“Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
2 Kings 6:16
The best stories are the ones where you can visualize yourself as one of the characters. In this story, I am Elisha’s servant, the one who awoke one morning to find his city surrounded by an army with horses and chariots—the tanks and missiles of the day. Naturally, he was terrified.
To see the unusual—and almost comedic—way God subdues this army, look it up!
Does something in your life have feeling like Elisha’s terrified servant? See Why You Can Trust God Instead of Freaking Out.
#2) Judges 7:1-25: Gideon Defeats the Midianites
“Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.”
Judges 7:9
I’m pretty familiar with this story, thanks to Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber. But the children’s version is not nearly as dramatic as what really happened.
What really happened is Gideon and his tiny army marched out and slaughtered the enormous Midianite army—without ever drawing a weapon. It’s a great demonstration of the awesome power of God!
Facing your own battles? Read The Battle’s Already Been Won.
#3) Ezekiel 37:1-14: The Valley of Dry Bones
“Son of man, can these bones live?”
Ezekiel 37:3
God isn’t just capable of destroying an army. He can bring one back to life again.
That’s exactly what happens here. Ezekiel finds himself standing in what is basically a mass grave—a field with bones scattered everywhere, their flesh completely gone. God asks him if these bones can live again, then proceeds to show him the answer—bone by bone, muscle by muscle, breath by breath—as Ezekiel watches, dumbfounded by this mass resurrection.
Does God’s power and might intimidate you? Read Jesus Saved You From Sin, Death, Hell—And God.
#4) 2 Kings 18:17-19:37: Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
“I will defend this city and save it…”
2 Kings 19:34
What’s the first thing you do when you receive terrible, life-altering news? Hezekiah brought it to the Lord. Literally. He spread the letter out before the altar of God, and God told him, “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got your back.”
See how this terrifying threat is resolved in chapter 19 of 2 Kings. (I’ll give you a hint: No army is a match for the angel of the Lord!)
Wish you had faith like Hezekiah? How to Build Rock-Solid Faith When God Stirs the Coals.
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More Scripture For Teens
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Wondering how God’s power works in you? Plug Into the Power of the Holy Spirit.
