Can one KNOW that a particular event was an act of God?

Question

Example: late stage cancer makes a seemingly inexplicable disappearance. Doctors are baffled.

One Christian interpretation: "It was an act of God. A miracle. I don't just BELIEVE it was God, I KNOW it was God." This is a direct quote, by the way.

How is it that one might absolutely KNOW this event was attributable to God? Are all inexplicable events "acts of God" or only certain ones? If only certain ones, is there a way to tell the difference?

Answer 1

Doctors aren't infallible. Doctors certainly aren't "GOD" ... therefore, why couldn't they be stumped? No one (in any profession) has all the answers. No one can ever *know* something was an act of God. I happen to believe in God, but I would never be so arrogant as to profess knowing something (anything) was an act of God.

Answer 2

Absolutely. Because you don't give satan the credit. For one satan could care less. That being said, he will sometimes mimic miracles. The illness will usually come back in those situations.
Miracles in themselves without spiritual discernment can be deceiving. We must try the spirits and see if everything lines up to the Word of God. First off you will see a real change in that person's life because when someone is healed, their sins will also be forgiven. (they will be saved at the same time)
How do you know for sure when someone loves you and that you can trust them to be there for you? You just feel that and you know it. I have a friend healed of Lupus. The Doctors couldn't cure her. God did. Saints were praying and fasting for her and she was annointed like the Bible says for the church elders to do and God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Here's the danger though, the false Christ in the last days will convince people he is the Messiah through doing amazing miracles, even by mimicking the resurrection himself if I understand the Bible rightly. People have got to have their names written in the Lamb's book of life and understand the difference because it says this anti-Christ would decieve the very elect of God if it were possible and that the righteous would scarcely be saved. The best way to know is to hear and see the testimonies. There are plenty in the Bible and since then until the present. I know another sister recently healed of high blood pressure and was taking several pills a day. I could go on but time doesn't allow! The best miracle I know of takes place when your sins are forgiven and the burden of guilt and shame rolled away!

Answer 3

Can one KNOW that it isn't? If the person were praying for a miracle and this happened, how else would you explain it? A friends dad was given 4 months to live because of lung cancer. He chose not to accept treatment since his chances of survival were very small anyway. He prayed for his cancer to go into remission. It didn't. Yet he lived 28 more full, relatively pain free years before dying peacefully in his sleep. I'm not particularly religious but this type of thing does give me pause.

On the other hand, a dear friend of my wifes, an atheist since the age of 9 had a similar situation with her mom when she was a child. Her aunts told her that if she prayed, her mom would get well. She dutifully prayed. Her mom did not get well. She died. Then her aunts told her that God had taken her mom because he needed another angel in heaven. She could not accept this, She reasoned that an all powerful God could not possibly need her mother more than she did so if there was a God, he was just plain mean. She never prayed again.

Answer 4

One day I got run off the interstate by a truck. The interstate was under construction. I didnt know where I was or how to get back on.
The ramp led to a traffic light that I could only turn right or left.
I was tired and exasperated. I said "God, I dont know where I am, PLEASE! help me."
The impression that came into my mind was this: "Make a left at the light, go down and there will be a Mobile gas station on the left, go in there and ask directions and they will tell you how to get back on the interstate."
No voice, just impression, and a visual of the Mobile station. I turned left, the road curved and I wondered if I just thought all that up myself. There appeared a Mobile station on the right. As I rounded the bend, it actually was on my left. I went in and the men gave me directions. The way back to the interstate was a bit complicated a motorist wouldnt have expected.
This is just one example I have of God in my life.
Jesus was the highest of physicians. If one is healed, I do agree it is a result of the work of God. He has continually answered my silent prayers that only He could have. That is why I definitely believe positive events otherwise impossible in the 'natural' are of God. Jesus said many times "Your faith has made you well". The person with late stage cancer-call it a miracle-may have had such faith, other's faith during prayer for that person may have brought healing, or even that miracle in the body of the faithless-God may have used the miracle to bring faith, hence belief, to the unbeliever.

Telling the difference if the 'inexplicable' is an act of God is not always easy.
God can use anything for our good.
I 'believe' a prayer of mine was answered by the 'supernatural'-as in not the 'natural'. It was answered, but not necessarily by God. At first it seemed things were well. As things progressed, the circumstances became unGodly. I questioned, would GOD have answered my prayer this way? When I realized the answer was 'no', I was already scared to my wits end. There'd been 'inexplicable events' but not of God. I'd been on the wrong path in life. I dont think GOD!! gave me that prayer answer, but He ALLOWED it, and it changed my life. He was merciful enough to let me know by showing me I had one foot on a banana peel and another foot in hell. He accepted me in my sorrow, after He allowed me profound fear.
Personally I assign all positive inexplicable events as attributable to God.
The negative, its a toss up.
One possible rule of thumb for negative inexplicable events being attributable to God or not-if deception is in any way involved (I believe crying statues are an example), if sin results, if confusion results, if division results-on and on-then I wouldnt say the inexplicable event was of God. I am not talking about weather or geological events, such as a tornado and the ensuing confusion, as not of God. Such may seem inexplicable but are not truly so.

Remember in your quest for an answer:
God is blameless.
God cannot be untrue to Himself (The Bible stands), and
we cant and dont have the mind of God.
Thank God! God Bless.

Answer 5

Yes.

Christians don't often use it as a developed skill, but honesty is something that can grow into an ability to filter out things that aren't true. The more you live an honest life, the more you discipline yourself to act and live with integrity, the more you'll come to recognize the truth instinctively.

The best example I can give you (if you've never tried) is ear training for music majors in college. Your instructor will sometimes play types of cords over and over until you recognize them by ear, whether major, minor, augmented or dimished.

Eventually, the truth will strike a chord you'll recognize, and falsehood will strike dissonance.

(It's not necessary to be a Christian to experience this, but do we have an advantage.)

Answer 6

Your beliefs unfortunately are just above voodoo and just as unreal. If the Dr. fails what would you expect him to say ? I'd look for alternative cures like the one the Surgeon from San franscico who had last stages of breast cancer and refused cancer causing treatments like chemo and radiation but went to diet ,hydration and low stress and was cured in 6 months .
I think although not as good as go to DR.'s rather than god for good reason. good luck to you.don't be scammed.
peace out

Answer 7

Jesus tells us that as His followers we have a right to ask for anything in His name. Jesus' disciple, James, says that we do not have because we do not ask and believe. If a person confesses Jesus as his or her savior and trust in Father God for his or her life then, I believe that Father God controls and protects the life as He promised His Son, Jesus, that He would. Can one be certain that miracles come from Father God? If one is trusting Him, then Almighty God will not let one down, ever.

Answer 8

Have you ever been in a situation that you could not get yourself out of but you got your self in it? A situation where you know something bad could have happened but it didn't? However you came out smelling like a rose, those were acts of God. And you must know that you know that you know that no one but God could have helped you out. Pay attention to your life and know that God is there, He will never leave you no matter what, although YOU may leave Him.

Answer 9

Excellent question. The deepest and truest knowledge is the wisdom that comes not from scientific evidence but from our SOUL. Haven't you ever just "known" something, in your gut? That feeling is not to be diminished; that is the voice of your soul talking, your connection to God.
I don't think there's any way to tell the difference though, the way you mean, no! Just try to tune in to your own inner wisdom as it applies to you own life, that's all that matters...
Cool pic by the way...

Answer 10

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

God is much more present than you or I are even in our own lives.