Feature
05 Jan 2026
“If a quantum (fundamental) interaction in nature is not explicitly forbidden by known conservation (natural) laws or other fundamental principles, it will inevitably occur.”
Gell-Mann, Nobel laureate
Introduction
Miracles, events that cannot seem to be explained by the laws of nature, often challenge our Christian understanding of the natural world. To explore this, we must first consider the scientific concept of entropy, a measure of disorder in a system, and how it relates to claims of miraculous events, particularly those described in the Scriptures.
Entropy and the Possibility of Reverse Order
Entropy, a fundamental concept in physics, chemistry and engineering, describes how isolated systems tend toward disorder over time. For example, when books fall from a table, they scatter rather than restack themselves. This tendency toward disorder is a statistical probability, not an absolute certainty.
However, entropy can decrease in a system if it is coupled with another system i.e. order can be restored, but only with external influence. At the molecular level, while the probability of a system spontaneously returning to order is extremely low, it is not zero. Thus, from a scientific perspective, a healing miracle, such as the restoration of healthy cells from diseased ones, could be viewed as a highly improbable, but not impossible, reversal of entropy.
The Bible often describes God as actively involved with His creation, suggesting that miracles are possible through divine intervention, or “coupling” between God and the natural world.
Creation, Chaos, and Order
It is often suggested by science that, because entropy (a measure of disorder) always increases, the universe must have started at creation with the lowest possible entropy—that is, in a more uniform and organized state —which then rapidly expanded and became more disordered over time.
However, the original Hebrew phrase in Genesis 1:1-2, Tohu Vavohu, is sometimes translated as “unformed and void” and is interpreted to mean the universe began in a state of chaos or disorder, with order only emerging later through divine action. This interpretation suggests that the universe at creation started in a highly disordered state, or with high entropy, contrary to the scientific view that it began with low entropy.
Defining Miracles: A Scientific Perspective
Well-known Philosopher David Hume defined miracles as violations of the laws of nature. From a scientific perspective, verifying a miracle requires evidence that cannot be explained by current natural laws. As Carl Sagan famously stated, “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.”
For example, if scientists were to investigate a reported miracle such as water turning into wine, they would begin by forming hypotheses and designing experiments to test whether this phenomenon could occur under known physical and chemical conditions. If such a transformation were indeed observed, researchers would first seek natural explanations based on established scientific laws.
Rather than immediately attributing the occurrence to the supernatural, scientists would exhaust all possible natural causes. A well-trained scientist would ask whether the observation reveals a gap in our current understanding of physics or chemistry. No respectable scientist would dismiss the possibility of a new natural explanation (or new discovery) unless it was certain that all known laws of nature were fully checked or examined.
The Scientific Blind Spot
Science is inherently cautious. It does not claim to know all the laws of nature completely; so, any unexplained event could be due to undiscovered natural phenomena, not necessarily a miracle. This creates a “blind spot” because science is not equipped to confirm or deny miracles definitively, as it always leaves room for future discoveries.
Divine Intervention and the Laws of Nature
Many people wonder whether God intervenes by changing the laws of nature to perform miracles. It seems to the writer that it is unlikely that God, having established these natural laws prior to the Sabbath rest (Genesis 2:2-3) arbitrarily suspends or alters them. Altering fundamental constants, such as the mass or charge of the electron, would render the universe uninhabitable, upsetting the careful balance of nature and its ecosystems. Consequently, miracles should be generally understood as extraordinary events that occur within the established framework of natural laws, rather than as violations of them.
Future “Miracles”: AI and Medical Advances
Recent breakthroughs, such as the 2024 Nobel Prize-winning work in AI-driven protein design, are revolutionizing medicine. AI now enables rapid drug development and creates the potential for curing diseases previously thought incurable. What once seemed miraculous, may soon become routine. For instance, the curing of many diseases through miracles has almost become redundant as people visit doctors when ill or self-administer pills when they are unwell. This demonstrates how scientific progress can transform our understanding of what is possible. Thus, some day if a new law is discovered, the then miracle of the past becomes an established fact and is no longer a mystery or a miracle.
Miracles as Signs
Interestingly, the Gospel of John describes Jesus turning water into wine not as a “miracle,” but as a “sign”—an event that may point beyond itself to a deeper reality. John 2:11 (ESV): “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”
Perhaps miracles could be interpreted as signs of God’s working in unique circumstances to reflect His glory. In the case of the miracle at Cana, John is inviting readers to look beyond the miracle itself and discern what it reveals about Jesus’ identity, mission, and the promise of the new life he brings. Each sign points to greater spiritual truth, and is not merely an impressive display of power.
Conclusion: Science does not rule out the possibility of miracles
Science is not able to prove or deny miracles. There is a “blind spot” in science which cannot ascertain the occurrence of miracles. Miracles can occur and science does not rule out the possibilities. Even if all current known laws are checked, there is no guarantee that new laws will not be discovered in future, that can explain what seems to be a miracle.
While science seeks natural explanations and remains open to new discoveries, the concept of miracles invites reflection on the intersection of faith, evidence, and the limits of human knowledge.
Dr Phil Chan is a theoretical high energy particle physics professor at the National University of Singapore. He worships at Eternal Life Assembly, supports Cru-Singapore and overseas missions, and is dedicated to making disciples. He is an Associate Scholar at the Israel Institute of Biblical Studies in Israel.