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"Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white which was in the rods" (Genesis 30:37).  Now, sheep are mammals, and the phenotype of the offspring is affected by random genetic recombination of male and female genes. Was what Jacob did the common belief about reproduction? Was that a miracle?

It is not necessary to look for a miracle here, for though the fact has not been accounted for, it is nevertheless sufficiently plain that the effect does not exceed the power of nature; and there is no doubt that the same modes of trial used by Jacob would produce the same results in similar cases.

The finger of God works in nature in thousands of ways unknown to us. We see effects without end, of which no rational cause can be assigned; it has pleased God to work thus. God mercifully hides the operations of His power from man in a variety of cases, that He may protect him against pride. We must acknowledge that nature is the instrument through which God chooses to operate, and that He performs all things according to the counsel of His own will, which is always infinitely wise and infinitely good.