many of whom didn't believe, even when they saw Elijah call down fire from heaven, and get whisked heavenward by a fiery tornado
This is such a good point. I was truly surprised when our bible study group read Numbers , during which time I decided I needed to freshly read Exodus, and the repeated situation with Israel that big miracles would happen, the big, dramatic, impossible seeming kind, right in front of their eyes, the column of fire, the parting of the sea, the plauges, the water from the rock. Big stuff. Yet, in spite of the big stuff right in front of their eyes, many would not believe fully. It was just...surprising to see that. How much does it take for someone to believe that is cautious even? For me, it was quite a few things (but not so large as these!), and together like perhaps a dozen was enough to know then there is no longer any doubt. But these people had much more drastically dramatic and huge miracles right in front of them, with all their friends witnessing too, and still many had less than full faith, and many just seemed to outright not believe.
How?
It's kinda...really pronounced, or just...hard for me to imagine. I mean after 5 or more huge miracles, how could any human being not believe? Yet, indeed many did not really believe, even though the miracles were going straight through Moses, and other signs given straight through Moses, so that...well, how could anyone imagine Moses wasn't getting the true and real words from God, or that when the 12 spies went across to see the promised land, that 10 thought God couldn't handle Canaanite cities full of idol worshipers (who did great evils Deu 12:31), because once you see so many miracles already, then wouldn't you believe the old story about Sodom being destroyed?
Yet...even with Christ Himself in person right in front of the eyes of His own followers, doing signs and miracles, and them following Him up close, personally with Him, even then:
11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
“Twelve,” they replied.
20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”
21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
Mark 8 NIV
And look they are believers, mostly. How much does it take until someone believes fully?
God is so merciful, because even with only a small faith, for a moment of sincere prayer, done in real humility, He is willing to rescue those who are so prodigal as I was.
But the thing that stands out is that miracles done right in front of someone's eyes even won't necessarily lead to believe.
So, I'm thinking it's not 'proof' many need (though I did, and some like Thomas needed more, as did I)...but instead it's solely about the hardness of hearts.