If we want it, we can easily believe that God gives us a sign. We can persuade ourselves that our will is God’s will too, and then hurry on making terrible decisions based on what we believe is a sign.
So, how do you tell if a sign is from God? What are some of the ways God gives signs? What are the things we will see when God sends us a sign? And is it plausible that God is still doing miracles today as His miraculous signs?
There are mysteries underlying these divine messages, seeking to understand how they guide, inspire, and affirm our spiritual journey in a modern world where miracles might seem rare, but are perhaps just waiting to be recognized.
Key Takeaways
- Signs from God are depicted as spiritually meaningful events, varying in form and specific to each individual, potentially involving dreams, messages, or direct revelations.
- We need to interpret signs in alignment with biblical teachings, using examples of biblical figures who received divine signs while cautioning against superstition or personal biases.
- It is important to align the signs with Scripture and use spiritual discernment to differentiate true divine signs from mere coincidences or personal desires.
Contents
What Is A Sign From God?
Many supernatural or otherwise occurring events in the Bible can be vaguely referred to as “signs from God,” some of which come in dreams, such as the image of Jacob’s ladder (Genesis 28:11–22). Others occur throughout the day, such as when God talked to Moses out of the burning bush (Exodus 3:1–15).
Some, such as those in the Gospel of John (for example, Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana), are more commonly thought of as miracles, though the Gospel’s writer used the word “signs.” What those verses all have in common is that they were unforeseen or unusual events that caused someone to stop and recognize God’s existence and grace.
Nowadays, it’s more common for us to view everyday happenings with special meaning and perceive them as signs of God. For example, if a friend’s father dies suddenly, we see it as a signal that we must focus on our relationship with our parents. We miss a train, which results in a surprising meeting with our best friend, whom we haven’t seen in a while.
What Does The Bible Say About Signs From God?
God decides when to utilize these miracles and signs, but we’re not to request them since we are not to test God to the test (Luke 4:12). Isaiah, on the other hand, says, “Ask a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as Sheol or lofty as heaven” (Isaiah 7:11). He wants us to seek a sign.
In the passage of Gideon found in Judges 6, he requested God for a sign. Several people look at this narrative when seeking a sign from God. Gideon sought a sign from God three times, and God granted his request each time.
Furthermore, there are common signs that point to the biblical truth that God wants you to follow. These are the kinds of “signs” that Christians should always be on the lookout for to conduct themselves in the manner God demands we live.
Likewise, there are superstitions[1] and horoscopes. This is when we seek irrelevant symbolic messages that have nothing to do with our concerns. Believers should refrain from being involved with such “signs.”
Does God Send Us Signs Today?
Perhaps you’ve heard individuals talk of experiencing signs from God and are intrigued. Perhaps they are more religious or spiritually talented. Or maybe they’ve gone too far down the religious rabbit hole. People who claim to have received signs from God are considered “off the religious deep end.”
Should We Pray To God For A Sign?
It’s not entirely incorrect to ask God for a sign; however, it could lead us down a dangerous path concerning our faith. God blesses us and has given us all we need to make good decisions by giving us the Bible, our direct contact with Him.
As followers of Jesus Christ and God, we must examine His word to learn more about Him and who He is. Likewise, this will establish our relationship with Him because the more time we spend with someone, the better we understand their desires.
4 Common Signs From God To Direct His People
1. Intrinsic Value
This is one of the most efficient ways God speaks to His people, through the Holy Spirit. God’s voice will regularly communicate with us as a whisper in our hearts (1 Kings 19:12). These instructions that we get in our consciousness are known as “intrinsic meanings.”
Those were messages intended solely for you. They will listen to your sorrows and concerns, inspire you to live a holy life, and reprimand you when you sin and resist. This is the Holy Spirit speaking to you (John 14:26).
2. Dreams
This does not necessarily imply that each dream you receive is a manifestation of God. It also does not imply that any spiritual dream you have is a message or sign from God. Once again, since Scripture is our only reliable, divinely inspired source of knowledge, one of the keys to judging whatever we think to be a signal is whether it adheres to the full witness of Scripture.
One example of God using dreams to communicate a sign is found in Genesis 37:9, “Joseph dreams he becomes a ruler.” Also, in Daniel 7, “David dreams about end-time events.” Moreover, according to Matthew 2:22, “God warns Joseph to flee to Egypt with baby Jesus.”
3. Fellow Brethren
God constantly sends us signs in the form of other people. The Old Testament may contain multiple accounts of prophets being brought to convey messages to rulers and others (Jeremiah 20; 2 Samuel 12). 1 Peter 1:21 states that holy men of God didn’t speak prophecies in old times by their own will, but they spoke as the Holy Ghost moved them.
In the Holy Bible, there are instances of God giving a sign through messengers: God appointed the prophet Nathan to reprimand King David, as stated in 2 Samuel 12. Another passage comes from Jeremiah 20: “God sends Jeremiah to warn of the incoming danger from Babylon,” whereas in Mark 3, “John the Baptist foreshadows Christ’s earthly ministry.”
4. Word Of God
God, indeed, gives us indications of His assistance and existence through the Bible. That’s why we should put our attention on the Holy Bible and study God’s Word, which will provide us with the most insight into God’s will for our lives.
In connection with this, the New Testament authors cited Old Testament verses to support and prove their beliefs: Jesus Christ uses Deuteronomy 8:3 when tempted by Satan in Matthew 4:4. Also, Paul states in Romans 3:10, quoting Psalm 53:3, “There is none righteous, no, not one,” while in 1 Peter 2:6, Peter explains that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone by referencing Isaiah 28:16.
4 Things We Will See When God Is Sending Us A Sign
1. The Sign Relates To What’s Happening In Real Life
Whatever we hear will come true if God truly speaks to us, since God never tells lies (Titus 1:2). So if God says and declares something, it will always happen because His word is unbreakable.
The issue is always with man’s hearing or our perception of what we think we hear. Deuteronomy 18:21–22 (NIV) instructs us: “You might ask yourselves, ‘How can we determine if the Lord didn’t speak a message?’ If a prophet’s proclamation in the Lord’s name doesn’t happen or prove true, then the Lord didn’t speak that message. The prophet presumptuously spoke it, so don’t be alarmed.”
2. The Sign Connects With What We Have Asked God
When we started praying, we drew close to God. We are blessed with knowledge, wisdom, and meaning. We are also subject to receiving signs from certain things mentioned in the previous paragraphs.
In the passage of John 13, Jesus foretold that one of his twelve followers would betray him. By dipping the bread in the wine and then offering it to Judas, Jesus gave John a sign (John 13:25–26).
On top of that, God answered the rest of the disciples’ questions on who the betrayer was in John 18:3, “So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.” God replied to their questions through the situations he allowed to transpire with Judas.
God will answer us through the circumstances and happenings in our lives since he controls those events. So we should pay close attention when something major occurs that is directly related to something we have been praying for because it is a signal from God.
3. The Sign Provides Clarity, Not Further Confusion
God can make you comprehend what he desires you to comprehend. If something strange occurs and you are unsure what it points to, it is simply because it is not God’s sign, for God is not the cause of the confusion.
As 1 Corinthians 14:33 explains, “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” Additionally, Paul informed Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:7, “Think over what I say, for God will give you understanding in everything.” He is the One who offers to understand. As James 1:5 implies, you should question and ask when you lack wisdom.
4. The Sign Fulfills The Bible
When we encounter circumstances where the Scriptures instruct us to do something, take it as a sign from God that he desires us to live biblically since we are in that certain position because the Bible teaches us how to be wise.
In line with this, Jesus spoke in Matthew 26:53–54: “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so? “He could have avoided the cross, yet he chose to act by the Scriptures because these are the will of God.
Summary
It requires ears to hear, a willingness to understand what God may be leading us to, and a desire to seek significance in what may appear to be random circumstances in our lives. It is vital to support all our beliefs with the help of the Scriptures and the Word of God.
When we pray, we seek God for clarity, delve into His word, and have faith in His promise to bring us understanding and guidance. As declared in Isaiah, “And this shall be a sign unto thee from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he hath spoken” (Isaiah 38:7).
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does God Say About Signs?
God often speaks of signs as indications of His presence and actions, meant to guide, reassure, and communicate His will to people.
How God Uses Signs?
God uses signs as a means of communication, revealing His power and purpose, and often these signs are used to strengthen faith and offer guidance.
What Are The Seven Signs Of God?
The seven signs of God include miracles performed by Jesus, such as turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1–12); healing the nobleman’s son in Capernaum (John 4:46–54); healing the man at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem (John 5:1–11); feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish (John 6:1–15); walking on water on the Sea of Galilee (John 6:16–21); healing a man born blind in Jerusalem (John 9:1–12); and resurrecting Lazarus from the dead in Bethany (John 11).
How Do You Know That God Is With You?
You will know that God is with you by the sense of God’s presence, often described as a feeling of peace, guidance, or reassurance, sometimes accompanied by signs or circumstances that align with one’s faith and understanding of God’s nature.
To receive a sign from God; yes i can do that. Sometimes this sign is in someone else’s speech, sometimes I find this sign next to something I want and pointing at it. If I want to see, my perception is clear. But God decides when I will see it. I have high perception. my heart is open and clear. Talking to God is a daily ritual I do. Of course , this is not a chat conversation , we speak with signs and it warns and sometimes guides me. But we are not on good terms with God. Sometimes I get very angry and say why did this happen? God consoles me later and I understand.