The Talmud and Midrash are replete with references to the occurrence of miracles in Jewish history. From the biblical days, Jews have been inclined to believe in miracles and see them as evidence of the divine presence. This inclination is also seen in the many references to miracles in Jewish texts.
Miracles are often used as a device that God uses to convey messages or guide people on various levels. Divine Guidance is one of these levels on which God guides humanity through various means including miracles. While it can be difficult for some moderns to conceive of how this works, Judaism has always understood this concept very well and it’s something you will discover about if you read further about this topic.
In the following article, Rabbi Samuel Waldman offers insight into what divine guidance entails and its occurrence throughout history in Judaism. This Rabbi also covers some important factors that make it hard for moderns to understand but not hard for those acquainted with their past.
What Is Divine Guidance?
As mentioned earlier, miracles are seen as a way for God to convey messages to people. While some miracles are performed to prove certain teachings, others are given to teach people how to live their lives. Divine guidance can occur in many forms from signs to visions that are interpreted by a prophet, to audible messages and more.
“When you read about divine guidance in the Torah and in the Midrash, it is important to keep in mind that the examples given are often metaphors and not re-enactments of real miracles,” Rabbi Samuel Waldman.
This is because Judaism was a people who lived in a region where nature was powerful and it was difficult to continually re-enact miracles. Instead, many of the examples given were to teach people values such as patience, humility, and acceptance of fate.
Miracles and Signs in Judaism
Throughout the course of Jewish history, God has proven Himself to His people in various ways.
According to Rabbi Samuel Waldman – who has a long and diverse career in religious education, some of these ways include the miracle that was the Exodus from Egypt, the miracle of the Red Sea, and so on.
In addition to these, there are also signs that are interpreted by a prophet. The degree of belief that the Jews had in these signs and in miracles in general varied over time and also depended on each individual’s level of faith.
“Some signs and miracles were meant to be examples that Jews could follow, while others were to be viewed with an open mind. Miracles and signs were a common occurrence in Judaism, occurring at various intervals and at various levels of belief. Some were accepted more than others, but there was no authoritative list of approved miracles and signs. Some were viewed as more important than others, and there was no prescribed order in which they were supposed to happen. Some miracles occurred in one country and were followed by other miracles that occurred in another country. Some were meant to be allegories while others were not,” indicates Rabbi Samuel Waldman.
Conclusion
The concept of divine guidance has been around since the days of ancient Israel, and it has also occurred in modern times. While it is difficult to accept at times, it is important to understand how this works and what level of belief you need in order to experience it. In the article above, Rabbi Samuel Waldman gives an overview of what divine guidance means and the various forms it can take. It also explains how it occurred in the past and modern times, and how it can be experienced in the present. For more articles like this, visit his website.