What other biblical instances show God providing signs to His people? Setting the Stage: Hezekiah’s Sign Request Isaiah 38 recounts King Hezekiah’s terminal illness and miraculous recovery. He asks, “What is the sign that I will go up to the house of the LORD?” (Isaiah 38:22). God graciously answers by reversing the sun’s shadow (Isaiah 38:7-8; 2 Kings 20:8-11). Scripture consistently shows the Lord confirming His word with visible tokens. Below are other key moments where God provided unmistakable signs. The Rainbow: God’s Covenant Reminder • Genesis 9:12-13 – “And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you… I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant…’” • Every rainbow still testifies that God literally keeps His promise never again to destroy all flesh by flood. The Burning Bush: A Sign of God’s Presence • Exodus 3:2-4 – Moses sees “a bush on fire yet not consumed.” • The phenomenon reassures Moses that the Holy One is calling him to deliver Israel. The Staff That Became a Serpent: Assuring Moses • Exodus 4:1-5 – “So that they may believe that the LORD… has appeared to you.” • God turns Moses’ staff into a snake and back again, a tangible guarantee of divine backing. The Pillar of Cloud and Fire: Daily Guidance • Exodus 13:21-22 – “The LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.” • Israel never camped without this visible marker of God’s nearness. Gideon’s Fleece: Confirming a Call • Judges 6:36-40 – Twice Gideon asks for opposite dew patterns on a fleece. • The LORD patiently complies, removing Gideon’s doubt that he will defeat Midian. The Sign to King Ahaz: Immanuel • Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” • Fulfilled literally in Christ’s incarnation (Matthew 1:22-23). The Moving Shadow: Another Witness for Hezekiah • 2 Kings 20:9-11 – God makes the shadow go “ten steps back” on Ahaz’s stairway. • Demonstrates His sovereign control over time and creation. The Star of Bethlehem: Guiding Seekers to the King • Matthew 2:1-2, 9-10 – “The star they had seen… went ahead of them.” • A celestial sign leads the Magi directly to Jesus. Miraculous Works of Jesus: Signs of the Messiah • John 20:30-31 – “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” • Water to wine, healings, and resurrection all authenticate His identity. Pentecost: Tongues of Fire as New-Covenant Evidence • Acts 2:1-4 – “Divided tongues like fire appeared… and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” • God signals the birth of the church and the Spirit’s indwelling power. The Coming Sign of the Son of Man • Matthew 24:30 – “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven… and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds.” • A future, literal, global sign assuring believers that final redemption draws near. Why These Signs Matter Today • They showcase God’s faithfulness—every promise accompanied by a sign was or will be fulfilled. • They teach that the Lord understands human frailty and willingly supplies confirmation of His word. • They point to Jesus, the ultimate sign, whose death and resurrection remain the decisive proof of God’s saving plan (Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). From Hezekiah’s reversed shadow to the promised sign of Christ’s return, Scripture presents a consistent pattern: when God speaks, He often punctuates His message with visible, verifiable signs so that His people can believe, obey, and find unshakeable confidence in His unchanging word. |
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