In the biblical narrative, a "sign from God" is often a miraculous event or symbol that serves as a divine message or confirmation of God's will, presence, or promise. Throughout Scripture, signs are used by God to communicate with His people, affirm His covenants, and demonstrate His power and authority.

Old Testament Examples

1. The Rainbow: After the flood, God established a covenant with Noah, promising never to destroy the earth by flood again. The rainbow served as a sign of this covenant. Genesis 9:13-17 states, "I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth."

2. The Plagues of Egypt: In Exodus, God used a series of plagues as signs to demonstrate His power to Pharaoh and to compel him to release the Israelites from slavery. Each plague was a sign of God's supremacy over the gods of Egypt (Exodus 7-12).

3. The Sign of Immanuel: In Isaiah 7:14 , the prophet Isaiah delivers a sign to King Ahaz: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel." This prophecy is seen as a sign of God's presence and a foreshadowing of the birth of Jesus Christ.

New Testament Examples

1. The Virgin Birth: The birth of Jesus Christ is a fulfillment of the sign given in Isaiah. Matthew 1:22-23 confirms this: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel' (which means, 'God with us')."

2. Miracles of Jesus: Throughout the Gospels, Jesus performed numerous miracles as signs of His divine authority and messianic identity. In John 2:11 , after turning water into wine, it is noted, "This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and He manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him."

3. The Resurrection: The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate sign of God's power over death and His promise of eternal life. 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.

Purpose and Interpretation

Signs from God serve multiple purposes in the biblical context. They are often used to:

· Confirm God's Promises: Signs are given to reassure believers of God's faithfulness and the certainty of His promises.
· Demonstrate Divine Authority: Through signs, God reveals His sovereignty and power over creation and human affairs.
· Guide and Direct: Signs can provide guidance and direction to God's people, as seen in the pillar of cloud and fire that led the Israelites through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21-22).

Faith and Signs

While signs can strengthen faith, Scripture also warns against a reliance on signs as the sole basis for belief. In John 4:48 , Jesus admonishes, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe." This highlights the importance of faith that is rooted in trust in God's character and word, rather than solely in miraculous signs.

In summary, signs from God are integral to the biblical narrative, serving as manifestations of His presence, power, and promises. They are both a testament to His divine authority and a means of communication with His people throughout history.