MINNITH

(Minʹnith) [possibly, allotment].

One of twenty Ammonite cities that Jephthah subdued after making his vow to Jehovah. (Judg. 11:30-33) Centuries later “wheat of Minnith” is mentioned as an item of Tyre’s trade. (Ezek. 27:2, 17) The exact location of Minnith is not known. One of a number of possible identifications is Khirbet Hanizeh, about four miles (6 kilometers) NE of Heshbon.

MINT

[he·dyʹo·smon].

A strong-scented herb, sole mention of which is made in Scripture with reference to the scrupulous care exercised by the scribes and Pharisees in giving the tenth of the mint, while disregarding the weightier matters of the Law. (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42) Several varieties of mint are found in Palestine and Syria, the horsemint being the more common. Likely the Greek word he·dyʹo·smon was not restricted to a particular variety but embraced the various known kinds of mint.

The stems of mint plants are square, with the leaves growing in twos, one on each side of the stem. The small, white, bluish or pinkish flowers are arranged in clusters, forming either separate whorls or terminal spikes. From ancient times mint has been used in medicine and for flavoring food; this on account of the fragrant oil contained in the plant’s leaves and stems.

MIRACLES

The English word “miracle” is defined as “something that excites wonder or astonishment, a wonderful thing, a marvel; an effect in the physical world which surpasses all known human or natural powers and is therefore attributed to supernatural agency.” In the Hebrew Scriptures the word moh·phethʹ, sometimes translated “miracle,” means “a great and splendid deed” or “a splendid and conspicuous deed.” In the Greek Scriptures the word dyʹna·mis, “power,” is rendered ‘powerful work,’ ‘ability,’ ‘miracle.’—Matt. 25:15; Luke 6:19; 1 Cor. 12:10, AT, AV, NW, RS.

A miracle, amazing to the eye of the beholder, is something beyond his ability to perform or even to understand fully. It is also a powerful work, requiring greater power or knowledge than he has. But from the viewpoint of the one who is the source of such power it is not a miracle. He understands it and has the ability to do it. Thus, many acts that God performs are amazing to humans beholding them, but are merely the exercise of his power. If one believes in a deity, particularly in the God of creation, he cannot consistently deny God’s power to accomplish things awe-inspiring to the eyes of men.—Rom. 1:20; see POWER, POWERFUL WORKS.

MIRACLES AND NATURAL LAWS

Through study and observation researchers have identified various uniform operations of things in the universe and have recognized laws covering such uniformity in natural phenomena. The Encyclopaedia Britannica gives as an example of a “law of nature” the law of gravitation. Scientists admit the complexity and yet the reliability of these laws, and in calling them “laws” imply the existence of One who put such laws into force. Skeptics who accept such laws view a miracle as a violation of these laws they accept as natural, irrevocable, inexorable: therefore, they say, a miracle never occurs. It is good to keep in mind that their attitude is that ‘if it is not understandable and explainable to us as far as we discern these laws, it cannot happen.’

However, capable scientists are becoming increasingly cautious about saying that a certain thing is impossible. Professor John R. Brobeck of the University of Pennsylvania stated: “A scientist is no longer able to say honestly something is impossible. He can only say that it is improbable. But he may be able to say that something is impossible to explain in terms of our present knowledge. Science cannot say that all properties of matter and all forms of energy are known. . . . [For a miracle] one thing that needs to be added is a source of energy unknown in our biological and physical sciences. In our Scriptures this source of energy is identified as the power of God.” (Time, July 4, 1955) Since this statement was made, further scientific development has made it more emphatic.

Scientists do not fully understand the properties of heat, light, atomic and nuclear action, electricity, or any of the forms of matter under even normal conditions. Even more deficient is their understanding of these properties under unusual or abnormal conditions. For example, only recently have extensive investigations been made under conditions of extreme cold, but in this brief time, many strange actions of the elements have been observed. Lead, which is considered one of the best electrical insulators, when immersed in liquid helium cooled to a temperature of -456° Fahrenheit, strangely becomes a superconductor and a powerful electromagnet when a bar magnet is placed near it. At such supercold temperature helium itself appears to defy the law of gravity by creeping up the side of a glass beaker and over the edge, draining itself out of the container.—Matter, Life Science Library, pp. 68, 69.

This discovery is one of many that have astounded scientists, seeming to upset their former ideas. How, then, can anyone say that God violated his own laws in performing powerful works that seemed amazing and miraculous to men? Surely the Creator of the physical universe has perfect control of that which he created and can maneuver these things within the framework of the laws he has made inherent in them. (Job chap. 38) He can bring about the condition necessary for the performance of these works; he can speed up, slow down, modify or neutralize reactions. Or angels, with greater power than man, can do so in carrying out Jehovah’s will.—Ex. 3:2; Ps. 78:44-49.

Certainly the scientist is not superseding or going beyond physical laws when he applies more heat or cold, or more oxygen, and so forth, to speed up or slow down a chemical process. Nevertheless, the skeptics challenge the Bible miracles, including the “miracle” of creation. These challengers are asserting, in effect, that they are familiar with all conditions and processes that ever took place. They are insisting that the operations of the Creator must be limited by the narrow confines of their understanding of the laws governing physical things.

This weakness on the part of scientists is acknowledged by a Swedish professor of plasma physics, who pointed out: “No one questions the obedience of the earth’s atmosphere to the laws of mechanics and atomic physics. All the same, it may be extremely difficult for us to determine how these laws operate with respect to any given situation involving atmospheric phenomena.” The professor applied this thought to the origin of the universe. God established the physical laws governing the earth, sun and moon, within the framework of which men have been able to do marvelous things. Surely God could bring the laws to play so as to produce a result unexpected by humans; it would present no problem for him to split the Red Sea so that the “waters were a wall” on each side. (Ex. 14:22) Though, to man, walking on water is an astounding feat, with what ease it could be accomplished in the power of “the One who is stretching out the heavens just as a fine gauze, who spreads them out like a tent in which to dwell.” Further, God is described as creating and having control of all the things in the heavens, and it is said that “due to the abundance of dynamic energy, he also being vigorous in power, not one of them is missing.”—Isa. 40:21, 22, 25, 26.

Since the acknowledgment of the existence of law, such as the law of gravity, presupposes a lawmaker of surpassing, superhuman intelligence and power, why question his ability to do marvelous things? Why try to limit his operation to the infinitesimally narrow scope of man’s knowledge and experience? The