Why Doesn’t God Perform Open Miracles Anymore?

A common argument among those distant from observance goes like this: “Let’s assume there is a Creator. Why doesn’t He perform open miracles so we can believe in Him and follow His will? It wouldn’t be hard for Him — and it would remove all doubt for us.”

Another version of this claim points to the contrast between the biblical age of open miracles — the plagues, the splitting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven — and our world today, where no such supernatural events seem to occur. “Just one clear miracle,” people say, “and we’d believe.”

Why doesn’t God perform open miracles anymore?

Miracles Raise the Bar — and the Consequences

Rabbi Zamir Cohen, head of the Hidabrut organization, explains that when miracles are open and visible, the moral and spiritual expectations of people are much higher — and so is the immediate consequence for failure. That was the case during the Israelites’ journey in the desert. They saw open miracles — water from a rock, manna descending from heaven — but when they sinned, punishment came instantly.

Such miracles were needed then because they were the first generation to encounter God. They had no ancient testimonies or records to rely on. Once they entered the Land of Israel, divine guidance changed — miracles became hidden, and the world began operating under the principle of ‘longsuffering’ (Erech Apayim), allowing time and free will.

The World Was Destined to Run by Natural Law

Rabbi Cohen continues: “When God created the world, He embedded within it laws of nature so that the world could function consistently. His will was that these laws remain stable and not be changed every other day. 

Only when it was absolutely necessary for people to recognize the Creator — for example, in Egypt, ‘so that you may tell your children what I did there’ — did He temporarily suspend natural law.
Those miracles were recorded in the Torah as an eternal testimony, whose truth can be verified across generations. God doesn’t need to ‘perform tricks’ on command — He already issued a certificate of authenticity that endures.”

The Parable of the Rich Man and the Piano

Rabbi Cohen shares a story: “Rabbi Yisrael Salanter once heard that a wealthy man had begun drifting from observance. The rabbi visited him, and the man said: ‘If God does miracles, I’ll believe in Him again.’

While they were talking, the man’s daughter returned home proudly holding her certificate in piano performance. Rabbi Salanter smiled and said, ‘I’m not sure I believe in certificates — can you prove it by playing?’ 

The girl hesitated and left the room. The father explained, ‘She doesn’t play for just anyone. She doesn’t need to prove herself — she has her diploma.’

Rabbi Salanter replied, ‘That’s your answer. God doesn’t dance to every person’s tune. He already gave humanity a signed certificate — the Torah and history itself. Whoever wants proof can study it.’”

Hidden Miracles Still Surround Us

“Anyone with a touch of spiritual sensitivity can sense the hidden miracles that surround us constantly,” says Rabbi Cohen. 

“Think of the thousands of rockets fired from Gaza — and the astonishingly low number of casualties. Or look at nature itself: the sun, a giant fireball positioned at the perfect distance from Earth; the precise oxygen level that allows breathing but prevents combustion; the immune system that fights disease; photosynthesis that sustains life. Everything operates with such precision that even the slightest change would make life impossible. That balance itself is a miracle.”

Hiddenness Is Part of the Test

Rabbi Yiftach Sofer adds a modern analogy: “Remember the TV show ‘You Came Out Righteous’? If every technician knew they were being filmed, they’d all act perfectly — but their reward would be meaningless. The test only matters when you don’t see the camera. That’s how our world works. God’s hiddenness allows genuine free choice and moral growth.”

He continues: “And if someone truly wants to see miracles — they’re everywhere. Many doctors themselves testify about recoveries that defy nature. But even open miracles don’t automatically lead to faith. The Israelites saw the ten plagues, the splitting of the sea, the giving of the Torah — and still built the Golden Calf.

A person’s desires don’t vanish just because they saw a miracle.
If someone doesn’t want to change, no miracle will help. The real answer lies in a sincere search for truth.”

Why Miracles Are Hidden Today

• Miracles once introduced God to humanity, but after that, faith was meant to rest on history, law, and moral growth — not spectacle.

• Open miracles raise accountability, leaving no room for moral struggle or free will.

• Hidden miracles still exist everywhere — in the laws of nature, the survival of the Jewish people, and the details of daily life.

• True faith isn’t forced by proof but discovered through an inner desire to find meaning and truth.