Does God give Signs?

Does God give us signs? This is the question we often ask ourselves amidst the uncertainties of life.

But then it is not clear whether God actually gives signs when we ask for them. Not being sure if a sign is from God makes our situations even harder.

I have been in situations where I really needed God to either confirm or deny a matter. Like many other children of God, I asked God to give me a specific sign if the matter was true and a specific sign if it was false.

Sadly, I never got any sign.

That made me question if asking for signs from God is a good idea.

Today, I am here to share with you what I learned after searching for information on this topic.

Did God give signs in the past? Yes, God gave signs in the past. I hope you know the story of Gideon who asked for signs from God to confirm if God would be with him when he went to war with the Midianites.

Does God give signs today? Yes, God still gives signs today. But this is where I will need to explain a few things. God has a guideline that He uses to determine whether to give someone a sign or not.

The Sign of Jonah

It is Jesus who said that this generation asks for a sign but none shall be given to them except the sign of Jonah. The sign of Jonah is what Jesus fulfilled by being dead for three days and resurrecting on the third day.

Jonah was in the belly of the fish that swallowed him for three days. Jesus was in the belly of the earth for three days. Jesus was swallowed by death for three days just as Jonah was swallowed by a fish for three days.

This is the most important sign that God has ever given to men. Death is the enemy that defeated all men until when Jesus came.

For three days, Jesus battled with death and on the third day He overcame. By Jesus overcoming death, God showed us that Jesus was actually the son of God.

If someone can’t believe that Jesus died and resurrected, it is impossible for such a person to believe that Jesus was the son of God.

The death and resurrection of Jesus is the only thing that separates Jesus from all other men who have ever lived on earth. This is why the sign of Jonah is the greatest sign.

When God gives Signs: Guidelines

We are here on earth though this is not our home. We are aliens. Our home is heaven. The greatest desire in God’s heart for us today is that we may believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

By believing that Jesus is the Son of God, we will receive salvation from death. God knew it would be hard for us to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that is why He gave the greatest sign ever through Jesus.

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All other signs that we ask for can never be greater than the sign of Jonah. Since the sign of Jonah that was fulfilled through Jesus is the greatest, God cares more that we believe it more than any other.

Jesus performed many signs and wonders. Some of them were written in the Bible others were not. God still performs many signs today but since they are not greater than the sign of Jonah they may go unnoticed by many.

For God to give you a sign, He demands that you must have believed the greatest sign first. Jesus only healed people who believed He was the Son of God.

If someone doesn’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God, why would God bother giving such a person signs? How will that person know that those signs are coming from God?

If someone can’t believe the greatest sign, how will he believe lesser signs?

This is why God only gives lesser signs to people who have believed the greatest sign. The lesser signs are meant to strengthen your faith in Jesus whom you have already believed.

Jesus continued performing miracles in the presence of His disciples yet they had already believed He was the Son of God.

Why?

So that they may firmly believe that He is the Son of God.

The Downside of Asking for Signs from God

We all need constant signs to follow Jesus. This is why Jesus asked us to partake in the Holy Communion frequently so that we remember that He died for us.

We need to see God heal people for us to firmly believe that God heals even today. We need to see prayers answered for us to know that God still answers prayers.

But when it comes to asking for signs, it is better for God Himself to choose what signs to give to us. God gives us constant signs.

For example, the sun has never failed to rise on any day. That is a sign that God is faithful all days.

God reveals specific signs to specific people to convey different messages. Sometimes God chooses not to show any sign to someone to test their faith.

When we ask for signs when God is testing us, we don’t receive any. Other times, we ask for signs and God gives them to us to strengthen our faith.

But our goal should be to build our faith to a level where we don’t need signs to believe. When Thomas touched the wounds of Jesus after He resurrected, he believed that Jesus had actually resurrected.

But after that, Jesus said blessed are those who believe yet they do not see.

Apostle Paul had one encounter with Christ and it was enough to turn him from being a persecutor to being a preacher of the gospel of Jesus. We don’t read anywhere that Paul asked for more signs.

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All through his suffering, Paul didn’t lose faith.

Therefore, seek to grow to a level where you don’t have to get a sign from God for you to know what God wants you to do.

Jesus knew from the beginning that He was to die on the cross. He didn’t need any sign even though God gave Him several signs. The signs served as an encouragement rather than an anchor.

Likewise, God will give you signs to encourage you even after you are completely sure of what to do. But grow to a level where you don’t wait for signs for you to act.

Conclusion

Asking for signs from God shows that your faith is in the early stages. There is no problem with your faith being in the early stages. Everyone goes through that stage.

But then, seek to grow as fast as you can past that stage. Let the Holy Spirit lead you in the journey of growth.

Read the word of God to gain knowledge. It is through that knowledge that your faith will grow past the stage of asking for signs from God.

God bless you!