Musing – Why Did God Give Us So Many Signs in the Bible?

Hebraic Musing – Why Did God Give Us So Many Signs in the Bible?

A concordance search in NIV reveals 41 plural and 16 singular “Miraculous Sign(s)”!  Why did God feel the need to provide “Miraculous Signs”?  Or why are sign(s) (in NIV, sign 82 x; signs 80 x) so important in Scripture?  What is their purpose?  Do they provide Direction?  Warnings?  Explanations?  Revelations?  

The primary reason for Miraculous signs (acts of God) are first to proclaim his sovereign power over creation, and secondly to confirm His commitment to the good of his people.  Miracles are often significant because they serve a larger purpose in God’s redemptive plan, testifying to the authenticity of God’s messengers who bring his revelation to humanity, to us.

First mention of “Sign” is in Gen.9:12-13 “And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth….’”  A sign of an unconditional covenant!

Another example, God provides a sign to identify His people in Gen. 17:11 “You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.”  Then in the NT, that sign becomes a circumcised hearts!!!  Rom.2:29  “No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit,…”

In the NT when Jesus performed His first miracle, what was the purpose?   “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.” John 2:11 (NIV)  That verse reveals two distinct purposes achieved by the miraculous sign.  (1) revealed his glory and (2) disciples put their faith in him. 

The world wants to see signs; maybe we are all from Missouri, the “Show Me” state.  “Then the Jews demanded of him, ‘What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?’  Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’” John 2:18-19   The world needs signs in order to believe.  (His resurrection was a big sign designed to confirm our belief in Jesus.)

Many ask why we don’t see Miraculous Signs like what God did in the OT; or like Jesus did; or like those we read in the book of Acts?  Those signs did and do still occur.  Example - Acts 15:12 “The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.”  Miraculous signs are reported to occur in the mission field, where God gets the Glory; and the result is that unbelievers become believers. 

In my opinion, we Christians and our Christian church do not need nor should we need “Miraculous Signs”.  We already have testimonies of our salvation as Miraculous Signs. PTL!  We need to let the Holy Spirit and God’s Word build our faith. 

BTW, I can testify of a Miraculous Sign that occurred in my life which confirmed by newfound belief that Jesus is my Lord.  Did you experience that sign also?

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

What Miraculous Signs from God do we see today?  Creation!!!   Sight, we “SEE”!!!

If a miracle occurred in our church today, who would get the credit?

Have you ever experienced a Miraculous Sign from the Lord?
What did it do to your faith, or someone else’s faith?

♫  But of all God's miracles large and small, The most miraculous one of all
      Is that out of a worthless lump of clay God has made a man today…♫ (Fiddler on the Roof)

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          June 2, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”