What does the bible say about signs?
Introduction
For many years, people have been looking for signs from God, trying to understand His will or comprehend their destiny.
In the Bible, we can find many examples of signs that God sent to people.
These signs are often seen as divine interventions made to guide, calm, or warn people and nations.
Today, we will delve into the biblical views on signs from God, exploring both the Old and New Testaments.
Signs in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, God often reminded people of His presence and will, so signs played a very important role.
The story of Moses and the burning bush is a good example of a sign from God.
When Moses encountered a burning bush, he witnessed a sign in the form of a voice speaking from the fire, which symbolized God’s call and commission to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
Thus, the Bible shows in what ways God could communicate with people.
The book of Exodus has several other examples of signs. For example, God sent ten plagues to Egypt, each of which served as a powerful sign of His power and ability to liberate the Jewish people.
These signs, including the turning of the Nile into the blood and the parting of the Red Sea, demonstrated the supremacy of God and showed everyone that the Jewish people were under His protection.
Based on this, we can know that signs can be not only in the form of appeals of God to people but also in the form of events that go beyond the laws of physics.
The prophets were also chosen by God to deliver God’s messages. They often received a sign to confirm their authority.
The prophet Isaiah, for example, was given a sign from God when he predicted the birth of Emmanuel, showing everyone that God would be with His people (Isaiah 7:14).
A similar sign was given to the prophet Jeremiah. He received a sign in the form of an almond branch, symbolizing God’s vigilance and readiness to fulfill His word (Jeremiah 1:11-12).
Signs in the New Testament
We learned what kinds of signs existed in the Old Testament and that they all came directly from God to help people.
The New Testament reveals a further understanding of the signs from God, especially in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
The gospels depict Jesus as a miracle worker who uses signs and wonders to confirm His identity as the Son of God.
These signs included healing sick people, raising the dead, feeding many people, walking on water, and exorcising demons.
The miracles of Jesus weren’t just a manifestation of power but also acts of compassion that revealed God’s love for humanity and the future coming of the Kingdom of God.
However, God the Father also sent signs; for example, an angel appeared to Mary before the birth of Christ, who informed her of the Savior’s coming.
An angel also appeared to Mary’s husband, Joseph, giving essential instructions to avoid death. Also, during the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove, and people heard the voice of God the Father, informing them that Christ is His son.
In addition, Jesus spoke about the signs that would accompany the end of time. Knowing such future signs is important for Christians so that they can know about the second coming of Christ.
Jesus mentioned heavenly signs, such as the eclipse of the sun and the falling of the stars, as harbingers of His second coming (Matthew 24:29-30).
Thus, physical phenomena can be signs from God.
Before the coming of Christ, the stars in the sky will go out, and a solar eclipse will occur.
At the same time, the extinguished stars also can’t be explained from the point of view of science, so even such astronomical phenomena will happen according to the will of God.
In a conversation on the Mount of Olives, Jesus told His disciples about false prophets and false signs that may arise in the future, warning them to remain vigilant and not to be easily deceived (Matthew 24:24).
The Bible teaches us that in our time, not all signs and wonders can come from God.
It is quite possible that the demon can help false prophets or mislead people.
The apostles and early Christian communities also witnessed many signs and wonders as evidence of the power of God.
The Book of Acts tells of numerous cases when the preaching of the Gospel was accompanied by signs confirming the truth of the message and converting people to faith.
For example, the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:1-10) and the deliverance of Paul and Silas from prison (Acts 16:25-34) showed people the truth of Christianity.
Interpretation of signs
The signs from God are present throughout the Bible and are shown in a different form each time.
Sometimes God spoke directly to the prophets; at other times, a sign appeared in the form of an unusual phenomenon or the coming of an angel. It’s imperative to approach the signs with insight and wisdom.
The Bible reminds believers to exercise caution because not every sign is necessarily from God (1 John 4:1).
Orthodox Christians interpret the signs mentioned in the Bible with the help of the writings of the Church Fathers. These saints were very close to God so that they could interpret the entire Bible with accuracy.
At present, the Church is wary of any signs, as Christ commanded us to do.
Any sign from God should carry some information that doesn’t contradict the Holy Scripture and bring good, and it is with the help of such criteria that the Church determines whether there were miracles or signs from God.
Signs from God shouldn’t be regarded as an end in themselves but as pointers to a deeper spiritual truth.
Jesus, for example, was outraged by those people who were looking for signs, not really understanding the meaning of the message (Matthew 12:38-39).
The highest sign that God has given to humanity is Jesus Christ, who is the embodiment of God’s love, grace, and salvation.
It’s also important to note that signs from God should never replace faith and a personal relationship with God. While signs can serve as confirmation or guidance, they shouldn’t be the basis of anyone’s faith.
The Bible repeatedly emphasizes the importance of faith as the foundation of our relationship with God (Hebrews 11:6).
That is why priests don’t advise people to specifically look for miracles and signs from God. Love for God and faith should be based on personal communication with God.
What did the Church fathers write about signs?
Many Church fathers wrote about the signs shown in the Bible or which they personally met.
For example, Saint John Chrysostom spoke about the signs associated with the spiritual growth of believers.
He wrote that the signs aren’t intended to replace faith but to confirm and strengthen.
Chrysostom taught that the signs were given to us to strengthen our trust in God’s providence, to encourage us in times of trial, and to remind us of the reality of the invisible spiritual kingdom.
Saint Cyril of Alexandria regarded the signs as evidence not only of the power but also of the divine nature of Christ:
“Miracles and signs performed by Jesus are not mere displays of power but authentic testimonies to His divine nature. They elicit faith in those who witness or hear about them, leading to a deeper understanding of the saving work of Christ.”
Thus, the signs described in the Bible were intended to awaken the faith of people.
They perform the same function now.
A person interested in the Bible can read about all the signs and wonders associated with Christ, so his faith can be strengthened.
Saint Athanasius of Alexandria had the same opinion. He wrote that signs lead people to a higher spiritual state and that they had the role of showing people where they can find the truth:
“The signs recorded in Scripture have a deeper spiritual significance. They enlighten us and help us recognize God’s presence and purpose in our lives. These signs are not merely historical events; they guide us toward a greater understanding of God’s providential plan.”
Saint Augustine of Hippo regarded signs as essential elements of God’s providential plan.
He believed that the signs were intended to direct a person’s attention to the divine, which leads to a deeper understanding of spiritual truths.
Augustine showed the importance of interpreting signs in the light of the Holy Scripture and the teachings of the Church, warning against the danger of seeking signs for personal satisfaction.
The opinion of Saint Augustine fully corresponds to the way the Church treats miracles and signs.
The Church urges people not to seek miracles and not to base their faith solely on miracles since such faith will be weak enough and won’t have a spiritual basis.
Saint Gregory the Great considered signs as instruments of God’s mercy and guidance. He believed that signs were meant to awaken and strengthen people’s faith, bringing believers closer to God.
Gregory urged believers to recognize the signs, both in the Holy Scriptures and in their own lives, and to respond with repentance, prayer, and acts of mercy.
In this way, we can learn about signs not only from the Bible but also from the personal life or the lives of saints.
Such things can be sent by God not only to holy people but also to ordinary people having sinful life.
This is exactly what happened to Mary of Egypt, after which she completely changed her life and lived for many years in the desert, constantly praying to God.
Without the sign presented to her in the form of a direct appeal, she most probably wouldn’t change her life and come to faith.
That’s why based on the Bible, the biographies of saints, and the writings of the Сhurch fathers, it can be concluded that signs can appear to people at any time, and we must be able to recognize true signs and then take action to achieve greater faith in God.
Final Thoughts
The Bible has many examples of the signs from God, both in the Old and New Testaments.
These signs serve various purposes, such as affirming, guiding, and confirming the presence and power of God.
We found out that the signs could appear in various forms.
In the Old Testament, God could often address people or demonstrate signs in the form of natural phenomena.
In the New Testament, they could appear as an angel, in real life or in a dream.
Christ could also show people amazing miracles that showed his divinity.
Although the signs can be awe-inspiring and have a strong impact, it is extremely important to interpret them according to biblical principles.
Ultimately, signs from God can help us understand the nature of God or find the truth.
By seeking God’s guidance, studying His Word, and relying on the Holy Spirit, believers can advance on the path of faith, knowing that God is still present and actively involved in their lives. However, signs can never replace someone’s personal faith and spiritual experience.
The signs played an important role in the Old Testament when the Jewish people were just embarking on the path of knowledge of the true God and were under threat of destruction.
The signs also helped Christ to show people that He was the Messiah, while the Savior warned people about false miracles that wouldn’t come from God.
After the ascension of Christ to heaven, signs repeatedly appeared to the apostles and the first Christians, helping them to build the Church of Christ.
Various people and saints continue to see signs up to the present day. However, for a better understanding of whether the sign that you saw came from God, the Church recommends contacting priests to compare the meaning of that very sign with the Bible and the teachings of the Church.
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Irina is a co-founder and author at AwakeningState.com, an online magazine launched in 2016 that aims to expand consciousness every day. Offering eye-opening articles on a range of topics, Irina strives to provide unique insights into personal growth, covering areas such as spiritual awakening, health, lifestyle, nature, and science.