2009-03-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

MIRACLE Neis נס
Written By Walter Vaughn

Miracles can be found in many different faith traditions. It would appear all belief systems have some magical aspect. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for these signs and wonders to be entered as evidence that a particular person’s belief is the true faith or true religion. This poses us with a delima in that all spiritual paths provide us with elements of the supernatural. It stands to reason that miracles do not define a person's belief as the "true faith." One example of this can be found in the book of Exodus.

Moshe and Aaron appear before Pharaoh casting a staff to the ground that miraculously turns into a serpent. However, Pharaoh’s sorcerers did likewise by their magical arts. Many Jewish sources try to explain away the possibility that Pharaoh’s sorcerers were capable of such wonders. They attribute their success by a simple slight of hand or some corny parlor trick. However, ancient Egypt was a highly advanced civilization. They were skilled in mathematics, medicine, art, and literature. Their incredible construction techniques can be witnessed even in our day by their pyramids. Should we assume that Moshe, Aaron, and Pharaoh were duped by these vaudevillian magicians? Where did their source of magic originate?

Ancient tradition speaks of the "Nephilim" (those who fell- from heaven came) who shared their knowledge of the magical arts with mankind. This " Magic" is called "apocryphal science".

However, it is important to note that the The Midrash explains the term "Nephilim" as giants who were responsible for the worlds down "fall" or (naphlu-they fell) and brought about the moral collapse of society. Do we have access to other historic sources regarding these mysterious creatures?

"The story of the Nephilim is chronicled more fully in the Book of Enoch (part of Ethiopian biblical canon). Enoch, as well as Jubilees, connects the origin of the Nephilim with the fallen angels, and in particular with the Grigori (watchers). Samyaza, an angel of high rank, is described as leading a rebel sect of angels in a descent to earth to instruct humans in righteousness"

If there is any truth to these ancient tales, is it possible that remnants of their teachings can still be found in many religious institutions? Could it be the Nephilim are partly responsible for confusing mankind by their host of false deities and miraculous wonders? Have these "fallen ones" secretly perpetrated ancient societies and instituted countless false religious practices that inspires terrorism, warfare, and corruption all in the name of G-d? All this would seem to be the making of a corny Friday Night Flick. Although, it would certainly appear that someone or something has purposely muddied the crystal clear waters of truth and changed the reflection of the everlasting G-d. There seems to be a distorting of all truth, making it virtually impossible for the sincere seeker to find the true essence of the Creator.

One would wonder is these ancient magicians would have wasted their time on various rituals if they didn't have some degree of success. The ancient east provided the perfect landscape in time and space for the supernatural to manifest itself. The belief of spiritual forces was common and a part of everyday life, it was the norm, to be expected. Perhaps, the spiritual senses of primal man was more sensitive than ours, thus their great success. It should be of no wonder that countless folktales and religious text make claim to spiritual intervention, an interruption of the laws of nature by a supernatural entity.

In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) the word for miracle is neis נס. This may be witnessed by the divine intervention in the laws of nature. Some believe the stories in the Tanakh which may appear to be miraculous are only allegorical in order to teach a moral lesson. Have miracles ceased to exist? Were they only granted to ancient societies? Did they ever exist?

Rabbi Simon Jacobson once said, "It is the natural things in life that are the greatest of miracles." Which brings us to the question, what constitutes a miracle? It would appear there are those infrequent mysteries that come and go that seem not to follow the laws of nature, but yet they exist. Perhaps, a "mysterious wonder" is only miraculous in that we don't understand it's substance. It is not so much magical but our limited understanding of our inner self as well as the universe around us. There would seem to be a connection between mind and emotion that enables one to ignite the miraculous. Having said that, for those who wish to access something deeper, there is a different level of energy, doors to a new world.

Many believe that anything that can not be proven by science might be considered superstitious. Although science is a necessity and should be treasured, is it possible that modern science has unknowingly dulled the spiritual man? Could it be our dependency on modern technology has dulled our senses, are spiritual abilities?

It would appear that man is no longer required to seek the miraculous, he lives it everyday in the modern world. In our day it is common place for the dead to be brought back to life, sight given to the blind, millions who are sick are made well again. Men are able to fly like birds and navigate space. Science has made the miraculous common place. There is no need or desire for man to look elsewhere, or is there? Although science provided us with modern technology, it is unable to change men's hearts from bad to good. Our ability to known right from wrong is quickly disappearing. Man's greatest enemy is man. If not something miraculous intercedes, there would be no hope for mankind. Yet, there is hope for mankind by means of G-d's anointed, Moshiach!

The door way to the miraculous can be accessed by means of devekut (Hebrew-דבקות.)

Devekut is the process where by the initiate cleaves to G-d. G-d is on their mind and heart all the time. There is no time when G-d is not on their mind. All their actions, all their ways is G-d. The Hebrew word for glue is devek דבק which is the root of devekut/attachment. When one attains this spiritual level ALL THINGS BECOME POSSIBLE. It is said this same inner knowledge will enable Moshiach ben David to draw down supernal power. He depends not upon blood sacrifice, the burning of incense, or any other magical practice. He is kodosh laHavayah. It is written,

Isaiah Chapter 11
"א וְיָצָא חֹטֶר, מִגֵּזַע יִשָׁי; וְנֵצֶר, מִשָּׁרָשָׁיו יִפְרֶה.
1 And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a twig shall grow forth out of his roots.
ב וְנָחָה עָלָיו, רוּחַ יְהוָה--רוּחַ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה, רוּחַ עֵצָה וּגְבוּרָה, רוּחַ דַּעַת, וְיִרְאַת יְהוָה.
2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
ג וַהֲרִיחוֹ, בְּיִרְאַת יְהוָה; וְלֹא-לְמַרְאֵה עֵינָיו יִשְׁפּוֹט, וְלֹא-לְמִשְׁמַע אָזְנָיו יוֹכִיחַ.
3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears;
ד וְשָׁפַט בְּצֶדֶק דַּלִּים, וְהוֹכִיחַ בְּמִישׁוֹר לְעַנְוֵי-אָרֶץ; וְהִכָּה-אֶרֶץ בְּשֵׁבֶט פִּיו, וּבְרוּחַ שְׂפָתָיו יָמִית רָשָׁע.
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the land; and he shall smite the land with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
ה וְהָיָה צֶדֶק, אֵזוֹר מָתְנָיו; וְהָאֱמוּנָה, אֵזוֹר חֲלָצָיו.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
ו וְגָר זְאֵב עִם-כֶּבֶשׂ, וְנָמֵר עִם-גְּדִי יִרְבָּץ; וְעֵגֶל וּכְפִיר וּמְרִיא יַחְדָּו, וְנַעַר קָטֹן נֹהֵג בָּם.
6 And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
ז וּפָרָה וָדֹב תִּרְעֶינָה, יַחְדָּו יִרְבְּצוּ יַלְדֵיהֶן; וְאַרְיֵה, כַּבָּקָר יֹאכַל-תֶּבֶן.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
ח וְשִׁעֲשַׁע יוֹנֵק, עַל-חֻר פָּתֶן; וְעַל מְאוּרַת צִפְעוֹנִי, גָּמוּל יָדוֹ הָדָה.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the basilisk's den.
ט לֹא-יָרֵעוּ וְלֹא-יַשְׁחִיתוּ, בְּכָל-הַר קָדְשִׁי: כִּי-מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ, דֵּעָה אֶת-יְהוָה, כַּמַּיִם, לַיָּם מְכַסִּים. {ס}
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. {S}
י וְהָיָה, בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, שֹׁרֶשׁ יִשַׁי אֲשֶׁר עֹמֵד לְנֵס עַמִּים, אֵלָיו גּוֹיִם יִדְרֹשׁוּ; וְהָיְתָה מְנֻחָתוֹ, כָּבוֹד. {פ}
10 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the root of Jesse, that standeth for an ensign of the peoples, unto him shall the nations seek; and his resting-place shall be glorious.

Certainly, this will be the greatest of all MIRACLES!

Miracles_Neis_נס

The door way to the miraculous can be accessed by means of devekut (Hebrew-דבקות.)