(A Radio Message Delivered by Dr. Cooper Over Station KGER, April 2, 1950, at 3:30 P.M.)

THANK YOU, D.L. Yes, the subject for discussion at this time is "Three Modern Miracles." This time next week, the Lord willing, I shall speak on the development in the southern part of the land of Israel and will interpret it in the light of God's Word. Israel is the nation of destiny, friends. It is the nation that God created, that He has used in the spiritual enrichment of the world, and that He will yet use in the fullest way in the future. So we want to be certain to know just exactly what God says about these people, whom He calls "my people"-- the people to whom He gave the land of Palestine. So be certain to listen in next week. "Remember, Jehovah is on His throne, that His eyes behold and His eyelids try the children of men.

When I use the word "miracle," men prick up their ears and take note. Not all people believe in miracles; but I believe in them, because they are taught in the Word of God. The word "miracle" is of Latin origin and looks at an event from the standpoint of the beholder. When the supernatural interferes with the natural order, or when God steps forth into the natural order and performs something that nature unaided could not accomplish, then such intervention always produces wonder and amazement. Thus from the standpoint of the observer, the word in the Latin that was selected to indicate such a divine occurrence is the word "miracle."

Along with miracles there is the word in the Greek that is translated "powers." The word lying in the original text is the term from which we get our word "dynamite." It is used along with that of miracles in order to emphasize the thought that it is power, divine power, divine energy, which is operative, and which causes such unusual phenomena. Then there is a, third term along with these, which is "signs." This word looks at that which we call a miracle, that which we call "powers"; but it views the situation from the standpoint of its significance in the fulfillment, in the confirmation, of the Word of God. Hence, both in the Acts of the Apostles and also in the Hebrew Letter, we see these three terms used side by side. But I have told you that I shall speak on "Three Modern Miracles," three miracles that are occurring in modern times. You and I live in modern times, friends, and I am speaking of those things which occur and are taking place in your day and mine. But in my speaking of three modern miracles, I do not mean that these are the only ones that are occurring. There are many, many miracles that are taking place at the present time. God is working. God is working all things together for good for the sake of those who love Him, and who are called according to His divine plan and purpose, which runs through time and throughout, all eternity. Yes, God is still working. Whenever He thus steps into the natural order and acts directly upon the situation, that is what we call a miracle--as I have just said. And there are many of them.

We have a little booklet, which is out of print at the present time, and which is entitled A Modern Gideon and Mrs. Gideon. I am hoping that we shall be able to bring out another edition -- enlarged and revised--and hope that you get one of them; for the incidents recorded therein will show you what is meant by a miracle, and how God is working out His plans and purposes in and through His people at the present day. But in my mentioning miracles, I must warn you against false miracles, bogus signs, those which come from a different source other than God. Whenever God works, Satan likewise in the great economy and government of the Almighty--by divine sufferance--is allowed to work within certain limits and under prescribed conditions. For instance; when Moses performed miracles upon his return to Egypt to deliver Israel from her servile bondage, he performed one miracle by throwing his staff upon the ground. By the Spirit of God it became a serpent. The magicians who were opposing him, in substance said, "You have nothing on us--we can do the same thing." So they threw down their rods, which became serpents--just as Moses' rod had become. Then Moses took his serpent by the tail. It was immediately converted back into a rod. The magicians did the same thing. Then Moses performed another miracle. The magicians did the same thing. But when he performed his third miracle, that was beyond their power and the limits of demoniac imitation. They threw up their hands in bewilderment, confessing that they could not duplicate this third wonder. The power by which they worked was none other than that of Satan.

When our Lord Jesus Christ was here upon earth, he performed miracles. In order, however, not to force, or coerce, anyone's mind, He always left a margin for the exercise of faith; so He allowed Satan and the demons to perform miracles within certain limits. Because a thing is superhuman, let us not conclude that it is necessarily the result of the power and the presence of God. With these remarks I trust that I have brushed away the cobwebs, so to speak, from around this most important subject and desire now to call attention to three modem miracles.

I was talking with one of the leading men in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem recently about God's overruling providence. During the conversation he spoke of these three modern Miracles. I am indebted, therefore, to him for the title of my message-- "Three Modern Miracles." He didn't suggest that I talk about these three things; but in our conversation we did discuss them. I thought that you, friends, would like to know about them.

The first one is God's bringing a goodly a number of Jews from Europe and settling them here in America in order that they might increase and enjoy the benefits of the civilization of our land of liberty and the home of the brave for the specific purpose that they might accumulate wealth for a definite objective. To show you that God is the one who brought the ancestors of the five million Jews to America in order that they might be preserved from the atrocities of the Nazis in Europe, all I have to do is to call attention to the fact that God works all thing's according to the purpose of His will. For instance, in Ephesians 1:11, I read: "... in whom [that is, in Christ] also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will." Man is free to make his choices. God never steps across the threshold of the individuality of any man. He uses moral suasion, but steps short of coercing man's will. He always allows man to exercise the power of choice. While this statement is true, the Lord by His omniscience and omnipotence overrules the free choices of men and brings about the carrying out of His plan and purpose of the ages. To show you that this is true, I wish to call your attention to the fact that God spoke of Sennacherib the Assyrian, and He called him "the rod of mine anger, and the staff in whose hand is mine indignation." Then He declared that He would send him against a profane nation, a nation that had been disobedient to him. At the same time this man, though used of God, was not conscious of the fact that he was a tool in the hands of the Almighty. Of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon the Lord also said through Habakkuk the prophet that He was raising up this cruel, powerful king of the Chaldeans. Moreover He declared that they would be ruthless and merciless, that they would go through the length and the breadth of the land, and that they would subdue nations not a few. Yet God said that He was raising him up, and that He was prospering his way. Certainly it is clear from these two passages, Isaiah chapter 10 and Habakkuk, chapter 1, that God does overrule in the lives of nations, as well as those of individuals to carry out His plans and His purposes.

On this point I wish to make another remark. One of the principles of God's dealings with the human family is set forth in that passage to which I have often called your attention; namely, Deuteronomy 32:1-8. In these verses the Lord speaks about His dispersing the peoples from Babel and of His hands having guided them to their future homes. When He thus scattered the nations, He had a definite objective, placing Israel--the nation of Destiny--in the center of His divine plan and purpose. Just as God's hand--invisible though it was--guided these primitive peoples at this second major crisis of world history, so the unseen hand of God guided the ancestors of these five million Jews across the Atlantic to make a home here in America. For what purpose was that? I am persuaded that it was for a very specific and definite aim, friend. God wanted to preserve them from the atrocities and the indignities that were heaped upon their brethren who were left on the continent of Europe, and of whom six million perished in World War II. I wish that it were in my power, dear friend, to speak to every Jew in America and read to him Deuteronomy 8:11-20, which I now read, and to which I trust you will give most earnest heed: "Beware lest thou forget Jehovah thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his ordinances, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 12 lest, when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;13 and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 14 then thy heart be lifted up, and thou forget Jehovah thy God, who brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; 15 who led thee through the great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents and scorpions, and thirsty ground where was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; 16 who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not; that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end:" Let me repeat that: "To do thee good at thy latter end." "17 and lest thou say in thy heart, My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember Jehovah thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth; that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as at this day." My Jewish friend, this is God speaking to you in this passage. God had a definite, specific purpose in bringing you here to America. His purpose was in view of His promise that He made to Abraham, renewed to Isaac and to Jacob. That was that He might use you for the channel for world blessing. Now, don't you forget this, that it is I--God Almighty--who gave you this power to get wealth. And why does He want you to have wealth? "But thou shalt remember Jehovah thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth; that ..." With this object in view--not that you might consume this upon your own pleasures -- "… that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, at this day."

So you, my dear Jewish friends, who live in America are here because of the miracle-working power of God Almighty, who in His mercy saw fit to bring you here to this great land of ours. He also gave you the ability to make money in order that you might have it and use it with one definite purpose in view--that He might establish His covenant with you in giving you the Land of Promise as He turned a portion of it over to you since the ceasing of the British Mandate. Bear with me while I re-read the verse which asserts this fact; "But thou shalt remember Jehovah thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth; that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as at this day." I would like to look into the face of every one of you, my dear Jewish friends, and impress the message of this verse indelibly upon your hearts. God brought you over here to America and gave you the ability and opportunity to make money. For what purpose? In order that you might help in the confirmation and the establishment of God's covenant that He made with the Jewish nation--as stated by this verse. Will you be faithful to the trust imposed upon you by your God?

But I must hasten on. The second miracle occurred there at El Alamein, about sixty-eight miles west of Alexandria. You will remember that Rommel, the commander of Hitler's African Army was moving forward like a mighty thunderstorm, rushing on toward Egypt. The Germans were coming down through the Caucasus, but were stopped at Stalingrad. They were intending to overrun the Near East and seize Palestine. Had they met in Palestine and overrun it, everything that the Jewish people had built up for the last few decades in the land would have been destroyed. But God, who says to the seas, "So far and no farther"--figuratively speaking--proclaimed to Rommel in Africa and to the Germans on the other front: "So far and no farther!"

The British were confident that their line at El Alamein would not hold. I have this news from one of the men high in the counsels of the State of Israel. The British had prepared defense positions at the south end of the Dead Sea. They felt that they would have to retreat to these positions and let the Germans under Rommel go into Palestine and conquer the land. But Montgomery, the British general, did something that was totally unknown in military history. What was it? He lined up all of his artillery, side by side. He also made dummy pieces of artillery in order to make the German airmen believe that he had more guns than he actually possessed. The commanders synchronized their watches with the chronometer at headquarters. At the giving of the proper signal --in a split second -- there was a mighty, and thunderous roar that sent forth shot and shell, shrapnel and bombs--the messengers of death which demoralized the proud German army and sent it reeling backward. Finally the fleeing Germans met Eisenhower's invincible divisions, which completely destroyed and captured the tattered remnants of this one-time proud and boastful Afrika Korps. I also learned that another factor contributing to Rommel's defeat was that he was also out of gasoline at the time. Hence the collapse of the Germans was inevitable. So the people of Israel and the land of Palestine were preserved on this occasion. This is the result of the overruling providence of God.

The third miracle is the rebirth of the Jewish nation and the preservation of the infant state after it became a nation among the nations. I mentioned this miracle last Lord's Day when I spoke to you. But let me say a word or two more in conclusion. When it looked as if everything was against the Jewish people in Palestine, suddenly their leaders--inspired by a great ideal and knowing the plan and purpose of God--met and proclaimed the State of Israel as a reality. Naturally they didn't fully realize what they were doing. "But God..!" God was behind this movement and brought the nation into existence. In the ensuing war He delivered the people, and preserved the helpless State of Israel so that it has continued to the present moment. And listen, friends, it will continue on and on. God has a plan for these people. Pray, friends, for the peace of Jerusalem! Good afternoon.