IS IT WRONG TO ASK FOR A SIGN?
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:12-13
Most anytime a believer talks about God giving a sign, or asking God for a sign, it is inferred that signs are unpleasing to God. I had a discussion about this yesterday with Jaime. We were celebrating the times God had given signs to us in the ministry after asking Him to confirm a decision we had made that we felt was right. We said to each other, yet again, how gracious God is to give signs to those who are wanting to walk in His paths.
Today’s story is another confirmation that God is a sign-giving God. Most every Biblical covenant has been confirmed by some visual symbol. The Abrahamic covenant included circumcision, the Mosaic covenant had the Sabbath, and the new covenant had the Lord’s Supper. God made a covenant with Noah by setting a rainbow in the clouds.
“But wait!” you might say. “What about Jesus words in Matthew where he says that only an evil and adulterous generations seeks for a sign. Then He called them wicked and perverse.” That whole account was characterized by rebellion and unbelief. Jesus was the sign. Yet, they rejected Him. In their denial of the truth, they asked for another sign. This was an affront to God the Father.
If I love Christ and walk obediently in His ways, I will encounter times when I’ve prayed about a critical decision but am just unsure which way to go. In that instance, I ask for a sign, or a series of signposts, where God shows me that I’m on the right, or wrong, path. My experience is that He is very eager to give markers. He wants me to get it right. He applauds my obedience and celebrates that I care about making a righteous decision. Why wouldn’t a good Father show me the way?!
You took the Moses by the hand and gave him, and Your children, signs along their journey. Thank you for being willing to lead me as you did Moses. Amen.
For more from Christine Wyrtzen and Jaime Wyrtzen Lauze, please visit www.daughtersofpromise.org
Originally published Thursday, 07 April 2016.
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