In the biblical narrative, signs serve as divine instruments through which God communicates His will, authenticates His messengers, and reveals His power and glory. The purpose of signs is multifaceted, encompassing confirmation of divine authority, demonstration of God's power, and the elicitation of faith among His people.

Confirmation of Divine Authority

Signs often function as a means to confirm the authority of God's chosen leaders and prophets. In the Old Testament, Moses is a prime example. When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He provided signs to validate Moses' divine commission. In Exodus 4:1-9, God gives Moses the ability to turn his staff into a serpent and to make his hand leprous and then restore it. These signs were intended to convince the Israelites and Pharaoh of Moses' divine mandate: "This is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you" (Exodus 4:5).

Similarly, in the New Testament, signs and wonders performed by Jesus and the apostles served to confirm their divine authority. 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, performed signs to authenticate their message and ministry (Acts 5:12).

Demonstration of God's Power

Signs also serve to demonstrate God's power over creation and history. In the plagues of Egypt, each sign was a direct challenge to the Egyptian gods, showcasing the supremacy of Yahweh. The parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22) and the provision of manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4) are further examples of signs that reveal God's sovereign power and His ability to provide for His people.

In the New Testament, Jesus' miracles, such as calming the storm (Mark 4:39) and feeding the five thousand (John 6:10-14), reveal His divine authority over nature and His compassion for human needs. These signs are not merely displays of power but are deeply connected to the revelation of Jesus' identity as the Son of God.

Elicitation of Faith

A significant purpose of signs is to elicit faith and trust in God. In the Gospel of John, signs are specifically highlighted as a means to bring people to belief. John 20:30-31 states, "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" . The signs are recorded to lead individuals to faith in Jesus as the Messiah.

However, the response to signs is not always faith. In some instances, people demand signs as a test or out of unbelief. Jesus rebukes such attitudes, as seen in Matthew 12:38-39, where He responds to the Pharisees' request for a sign by pointing to the sign of Jonah, foreshadowing His resurrection.

Judgment and Warning

Signs can also serve as warnings of impending judgment. The prophets often performed symbolic acts as signs to warn Israel of coming judgment due to their disobedience. Isaiah's walking barefoot and naked for three years (Isaiah 20:3) and Ezekiel's symbolic siege of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 4:1-3) are examples of signs intended to provoke repentance and return to God.

In the eschatological context, signs are associated with the end times, serving as indicators of the approaching Day of the Lord. Jesus speaks of signs in the heavens and on the earth as precursors to His second coming (Matthew 24:29-30).

In summary, the purpose of signs in the Bible is to confirm divine authority, demonstrate God's power, elicit faith, and serve as warnings of judgment. They are integral to God's communication with humanity, revealing His character and purposes throughout redemptive history.