Miracles, Free Will, and Faith: Why God Leaves Room for Doubt

The Creator made human beings with a clear purpose, that through faith in God, a person will merit eternal life in the World to Come. As it is not the way of justice to grant reward for achievements gained without effort, every person must undergo a test of faith and prove themselves.

God therefore granted humanity the gift of free will. A person is not forced to believe, nor are they forced to observe the commandments. Belief and observance must come from choice, and a willingness to surrender personal desires and overcome the pull of instincts that drive toward a life without discipline or faith.

If human reason alone ruled us without limit, there would be no struggle at all, and the truth of faith would immediately crush any opposing desires. In the face of its logic, and the great reward promised to those who follow God, hedonism would lose instantly.

The struggle exists because of a uniquely human ability: denial. It is this inner resistance that makes room for the real test of whether to follow our impulses or to stand firm in faith.

The Role of Miracles

The function of miracles is to illustrate the presence of the Creator and to provide a tangible foundation for belief. At the same time, there must never be compulsion to believe.

If miracles were undeniable, free will would be destroyed. For this reason, whenever a miracle occurs, God ensures that there is always a possible natural explanation. This explanation may be far-fetched, even absurd, but it remains an option for those who wish to deny. Those who truly seek to strengthen faith will see the miracle for what it is — divine providence revealed.

Those determined to reject God will cling to the natural explanation, no matter how weak, and walk away as if nothing extraordinary had happened.

The Red Sea

The most famous miracle of all, the splitting of the Red Sea, serves as an example. When the Israelites entered, the waters rose up like walls on both sides, leaving twelve pathways for the twelve tribes to pass through. How could such a thing happen? It was an open miracle.

Moses raised his hand, and the sea split apart. Yet the Torah notes an additional detail: “A strong wind blew all that night.” Why was this necessary? Could any wind, no matter how fierce, form stable walls of water and create a dry highway through the sea? The wind itself achieved nothing, but was there only to provide skeptics with a “natural explanation,” flimsy as it was.

This pattern has repeated countless times in history.

Science and the “Miracle of Nature”

In our times, this principle appears with even greater force. Science continues to uncover astonishing complexity within nature — systems so intricate in the human body, in life, and in the universe that they clearly point to design. These discoveries reveal the overwhelming wisdom of the Creator, which is beyond human grasp.

Yet, despite this, science as an institution does not clearly recognize God. Instead, Darwin’s theory of evolution has become one of the great “escape hatches” for those who deny faith. It allows scientists to sidestep the evidence of design, clinging to explanations that stretch reason itself.

No one doubts the intellectual abilities of these scientists. Still, on this subject, they abandon the rules of sound reasoning. This is because God Himself granted them the power of free choice. That freedom allows them to embrace implausible theories rather than acknowledge the truth of faith.