Changi Chapel

Are you seeking a sign because of a heart of unbelief?

In Luke 11:29, Jesus said “This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet”

In this verse we see a strange connection between an “evil generation” and “seeking a sign”. What is this connection?

Seeking a sign often comes out of a heart of unbelief. Or even a heart that refuses to believe! A heart of unbelief demands that God show up and prove himself.

So whenever we ask God for a sign, we need to examine if it comes out of heart of unbelief. If we are simply demanding God show up, it will grieve God just as He was grieved with the children of Israel in the wilderness who constantly demanded signs from Him.

And this seems to be attitude of the Jews in Jesus’ time who demanded a sign and Jesus responded that the only sign given to them would be the sign of Jonah.

And Jonah’s life points to two things. He preached repentance and he was three days and three nights in the belly of a fish. Similarly Jesus preached a gospel of repentance and prophesied that he would die and rise again after three days.

On the other hand, we see when we ask God for a sign and it comes out of a heart of desperation, God will always answer. Take the case of Gideon who was overwhelmed by the might of the Midanites and desperately asked God for a sign – and God gave him two definitive signs.

Similarly when Eliazer the servant of Moses who was on a mission to find a bride for Isaac, realized how he could not afford to make a mistake. And in desperation prayed in his heart that God will confirm who is the girl that He had chosen for Isaac. And God answered miraculously.

So when we in desperation seek God for direction and seek to do His perfect will, God will provide signs to confirm His will in the matter.

So when did you last in desperation cry out to God seeking to know His perfect will for you?