In the biblical narrative, God's confirmation through signs serves as a divine method to authenticate His message, validate His messengers, and assure His people of His promises. Throughout Scripture, signs are employed by God to communicate His will and to demonstrate His power and presence in the world.

Old Testament Examples

1. Moses and the Burning Bush: One of the earliest instances of God confirming His call through a sign is found in the account of Moses. In Exodus 3:2, God appears to Moses in a burning bush that is not consumed by the fire. This miraculous sign serves to capture Moses' attention and confirm God's presence and calling for him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

2. Gideon's Fleece: In Judges 6:36-40, Gideon seeks confirmation from God regarding his mission to save Israel from the Midianites. He requests a sign involving a fleece of wool, asking that it be wet with dew while the ground remains dry, and then the reverse. God graciously provides these signs, confirming His promise to Gideon.

3. Hezekiah's Sundial: In 2 Kings 20:8-11, King Hezekiah asks for a sign to confirm God's promise of healing and an extension of his life. God grants a miraculous sign by causing the shadow on the sundial to move backward, demonstrating His control over time and affirming His word to Hezekiah.

New Testament Examples

1. The Birth of Jesus: The birth of Jesus is accompanied by several signs that confirm His divine nature and mission. In Luke 2:12, the angel tells the shepherds, "This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." This sign directs the shepherds to the Savior and confirms the angelic message.

2. Miracles of Jesus: Throughout His ministry, Jesus performs numerous miracles that serve as signs of His divine authority and the coming of God's kingdom. In John 2:11, after turning water into wine at Cana, it is noted, "This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and thus revealed His glory. And His disciples believed in Him."

3. The Resurrection: The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate sign of God's power and the truth of the Gospel. In Matthew 12:39-40, Jesus refers to His resurrection as the "sign of Jonah," indicating that just as Jonah was three days in the belly of the fish, so He would be three days in the heart of the earth, confirming His identity as the Messiah.

The Role of Signs in the Early Church

In the early church, signs and wonders continue to play a crucial role in confirming the message of the Gospel and the authority of the apostles. In Acts 2:22, Peter speaks of Jesus as "a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know." The apostles, too, perform signs and wonders, as seen in Acts 5:12, where "the apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people," validating their message and ministry.

The Purpose and Nature of Signs

Signs in the Bible are not merely miraculous events but are imbued with theological significance. They serve to point beyond themselves to the reality of God's presence and action in the world. In John 20:30-31, the purpose of signs is articulated: "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."

Cautions Regarding Signs

While signs are a means of divine confirmation, Scripture also warns against an overreliance on them. In Matthew 16:4, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees, saying, "A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." This caution highlights the importance of faith and discernment, recognizing that signs are not the foundation of belief but rather a confirmation of God's already revealed truth.