CAN YOU SEE THE SIGNS?
INTRODUCTION: Tesla song Signs-signs, signs, everywhere signs. Ace of Base song I saw the sign-I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes. There are signs everywhere; some of them literal and some of them spiritual. It pays to heed both kinds; especially the spiritual. And hopefully when we do see the sign from God it will open up our eyes.
1) What are the purposes for God’s signs?
• To confirm his plans.
When God called upon Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, he gave him various signs. First, God gave Moses a sign to confirm what would come to pass.
Ex. 3:11-12, “But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
Then, God gave Moses a sign that he would perform miracles. He told Moses to throw his staff on the ground and it became a snake. He told him to put his hand in his cloak and it became leprous. The miracles would serve as signs to the Egyptians that God was behind what Moses was doing.
Then came the plagues. These were signs that God was serious about his people being let go. The plagues were a sign of distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians, since the plagues didn’t affect God’s people, just the Egyptians. Then, in the final plague, we have the plague of the firstborn, where every firstborn male in each household would die. This time, it would include the Israelites, unless they did what they were told to do. They needed to sacrifice a lamb and put its blood over the doorpost of their home.
Ex. 12:12-13, “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”
All these were signs of deliverance. God telling Moses that his people would worship on the mountain of Horeb. The miracles were signs that God had the power to deliver his people and that Moses was his agent. And the blood was the sign that his people were going to be spared and delivered. All of these served as confirmations that God’s plans and purposes would be carried out.
We have God’s word today as a confirmation that his plans will succeed. He has a plan for us that will succeed as long as we stay true to him. God gives us signs that we are on the right track. Kathy LeBlanc-getting a license and a car-signs that God’s blessing is upon her life for making the right choices. Getting a raise and more hours are signs confirming she made the right choice when she sacrificed her Sundays and Wednesday nights to be at church. Sometimes financial blessings come when we start making better choices financially.
These blessings are signs that we are making the right sacrifices and choices. He will give confirmations that show that we are where he wants us. God had a plan that I would be in the ministry here at Cornerstone and he opened the doors and made things happen. The signs were clear confirming that this was his will.
• To confirm his promise.
King Hezekiah had fallen ill. He had a painful, debilitating boil. It was so bad that he was told he was going to die. But Hezekiah prayed and God said he would extend his life another 15 years. When Isaiah told this to Hezekiah, he asked for a sign of confirmation.
2nd Kings 20:8-11, “Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the LORD on the third day from now?” Isaiah answered, “This is the LORD'S sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?” “It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back ten steps.” Then the prophet Isaiah called upon the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.”
God might not cause the shadows to change direction to confirm his promise to you and I today but God does still show signs to confirm his promises. When God made a covenant with his people he sometimes confirmed it with a sign. After the flood, God made a covenant that he would never destroy all life this way again. He confirmed it with a sign-the rainbow.
Through Jesus, we are established under a new covenant. God has promised eternal life for those who trust in Christ for salvation. What is the sign that God provided as confirmation of this promise? The Holy Spirit.
Eph. 1:13-14, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
The indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit, given to us at our baptism, is the sign that confirms the promise of eternal life. Every time we experience the Holy Spirit speaking to us, convicting us, opening the scriptures up to us, etc, these are all confirmations. The Holy Spirit is good at reminding us and encouraging us that God’s promises are valid.
• To confirm a warning.
Num. 26:8-10, “The son of Pallu was Eliab, and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah’s followers when they rebelled against the LORD. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign.” A warning sign for what? That those who rebelled against the Lord would deal with consequences.
God’s people were in exile, taken from their homeland, because of not heeding the warnings. 2nd Kings 17:13-15, “The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.” But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the LORD their God. They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, “Do not do as they do,” and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do.”
When we are going in the wrong direction God will give us warning signs so that we would wake up and turn back around. It’s kind of like traffic signs. If we choose to drive around ignoring stop signs we will eventually pay dearly for it. If we go around ignoring God’s stop signs we will pay dearly for it. When God shows us signs like “do not enter” or “wrong way” we better pay attention. One warning sign that God holds up is the “one way” sign. There’s only one way to heaven and it’s through Jesus. But many people ignore that sign and choose a different way. When that happens God will hold up the “dead end” sign, signifying that if you keep going down this road you’ll be dead at the end if it. When God gives us a warning sign we better heed it lest we suffer the consequences.
2) What are the purposes for Jesus’ signs?
• To show his glory.
John 2 has the familiar story of when Jesus turned the water into wine. Verse 11 highlights a purpose for this miraculous sign. John 2:11, “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.”
I think it’s safe to say that no one had done such an amazing thing before. This sign would be confirmation that Jesus was no ordinary teacher. We see that this occurrence caused his disciples to truly put their faith in him. He had revealed his divine capabilities to Nathanael earlier.
John 1:43-51, “The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
When Jesus revealed that he saw Nathanael sitting under a tree (which obviously meant there was no way he could’ve without a divine revelation since no one was around him when he was under the tree), Nathanael was impressed and recognized him for who he was. Jesus performed miraculous signs to reveal his glory. Jesus’ miracles show that he was more than just a prophet; he was divine.
• To show his authenticity.
Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus during the nighttime so he wouldn’t be seen by his colleagues. He did, however, unlike his colleagues, believe that Jesus was the real deal.
John 3:2, “He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Nicodemus had the wisdom to recognize that what Jesus was doing wouldn’t be happening is God were not behind it. To Nicodemus, Jesus’ miraculous signs pointed to his authenticity.
Peter wanted to highlights this fact too. In his first sermon at Pentecost, we find him telling his fellow Jews this about Jesus: Acts 2:22, “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.”
To be accredited means to be official, certified, approved. Peter is highlighting that Jesus was no trickster, he was no phony; he was the real deal-accredited by the Father himself. All the miracles signs and wonders he was able to perform confirmed that Jesus was authentic. Jesus was authentically the Son of God. And the miraculous signs are there to point to Jesus validity as the Savior.
John 20:30-31, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Here we see the ultimate purpose for all the miraculous signs that Jesus performed. His signs were to confirm his glory and his authenticity for the purpose of people believing in him as the Messiah. All of Jesus’ miraculous signs were done to convince people to put their faith in him for salvation.
3) But some were skeptical.
• The religious leaders were skeptical.
Matt. 12:38-40, “Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Jesus knew that their demanding a sign was not for the purpose of truly becoming convinced. Jesus had already done enough signs for them to become convinced. In Matthew 16 we see Jesus calling them out to their unwillingness to trust the signs.
Matt. 16:1-4, “The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.” Their ultimate sign would come when Jesus was resurrected. If they weren’t convinced after that then no other sign would help to convince them that Jesus was the Messiah.
• But they weren’t the only ones.
This was not the first bout God had with his people’s skepticism despite being shown signs. God had told his people he was giving them the land of Canaan; all they had to do was trust him and go claim it. When God sent out the spies to survey the land of Canaan, only Joshua and Caleb came back with a favorable report. They were the only ones to trust God’s word. Unfortunately, the other spies won the crowd over, convincing them that it was a lost cause.
Numb.14:1-11, “That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites. The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?”
Moses appealed to God not to destroy them and God honored Moses’ request but there was still a consequence. Numb. 14:20-23, “The LORD replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times—not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.”
People were skeptical in the days of Moses and it was no different for people in Jesus’ day. And it carries on to today. God performs miracles in people’s lives today but they won’t acknowledge him for it. God blesses people with sign after sign so that they would recognize them for what they are and come to him but many refuse; they choose to remain stubborn and skeptical.
• But not all signs are legit.
2nd Thess. 2:9-10, “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”
This shows that not all signs are legit. And if my love for the truth isn’t there I can be deceived by signs. This can be true when I place demands on the Lord and I ask for a sign and then I see something random or even familiar but I erroneously connect it to what I’ve been hoping for so I conclude that the Lord is confirming my desires. I’m asking the Lord what I should do and I use the age old trusted and reliable method of opening up my bible to a random page and the first word I see is the answer. And if I don’t see anything significant or desirable I will close it and try again.
First of all, I’m telling the Lord what method he needs to use to give me an answer. Second, I can only be grasping at straws looking for a forced confirmation for what I want. In these things I can be deceived into thinking they are actual signs from God when all along it is the Devil convincing me of something that God has not approved of.
“I want a new car and I prayed that God would show me which one to get. And he gave me a sign. Right after I prayed someone drove past me in a 2016 Corvette.” We might not make that much of a stretch but we can make mistakes when it comes to interpreting signs; and some misinterpretations can be very costly.
Not all signs are legitimate. The irony is, I have the tendency to believe the illegitimate signs because of my selfish desires but I reject the legitimate signs because they’re meant to draw me away from something bad or they’re meant to confirm that I’m doing something I shouldn’t be. And when I don’t want to see the true signs I will gravitate towards an illegitimate sign to legitimize my desires.
But then there are the signs that show God is qualifying I am on the right track and I am doing well; but this comes when I am in that place of humility where my purpose in asking for a sign isn’t because I’m skeptical or demanding but because I’m seeking God’s wisdom and my desire is to make sure I do the right thing. Signs are everywhere; some are legit, some aren’t. The question is-can I see them for what they are?
