Final answer:
The term for an unexpected event that resolves a hopeless situation, typically involving divine intervention, is 'Deus Ex Machina'. It originated in Greek theater but is now used broadly in literature to describe contrived resolutions. It differs from miracles, which are usually defined as events that cannot be explained by natural laws and indicate divine action.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe an unexpected power or event that saves a seemingly hopeless situation, especially one that involves a deity or divine being, is known as Deus Ex Machina. This term originates from ancient Greek theater, where a machine would lower an actor playing a god onto the stage to resolve a problem that seemed unsolvable. In modern usage, Deus Ex Machina refers to any plot device in literature or storytelling that feels somewhat artificial because it is introduced suddenly and resolves the complexities of the plot without prior indication that such an event would occur.
When discussing the concept of Deus Ex Machina, it is often conflated with divine intervention which, in a religious context, denotes a supernatural being's interceding in the natural course of events. However, miracles are characterized as events that defy the laws of nature and could only be the act of a higher power, often linked to God.