Joel M Bradshaw

29When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.–Luke 11

Jonah was pound for pound the greatest missionary of all time. He reluctantly said 5 Hebrew words and an entire culture repented. They feared Jonah’s God and therefore Jonah was a sign to take God seriously. Jesus’ culture should have seen the miracles that Jesus did and recognized that God was at work. When Jesus called for repentance, the people should have repented like the evil Ninevites did in Jonah’s day. For one greater than Jonah was indeed there. You either obey the word of God or you don’t. And villains who repent are in a better spot than the self-righteous who do not.

Jesus called his generation evil for wanting a sign. Here are some reasons why people demand signs from God.

1. THEY DON’T TRUST GOD TO SIMPLY TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD.
2. THEY HOLD A GRIEVANCE AGAINST GOD FROM SOMETHING IN THEIR PAST.
3. THEY LIKE BEING IN CONTROL AND WILL ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE A GOD WHO THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN CONROL OR MANAGE.

The moment God grants you your sign, he has entered into a relationship of manipulation with you. It’s a very rare person who demands something from God and if received it, stops there. In our selfishness, we turn into that story about the mouse who is given a cookie. Once we think we can control the relationship with God, what would hold us back?

If God chooses to show himself faithful with a sign in your life, then that is his business. I rejoice at the faithful grace of God. But to demand a sign as a precondition of faith is evil and manipulatory. You will never trust the God you think you can control. The most terrifying foreign power in Israel’s history once repented with no further sign needed. That generation of evil will one day stand as witnesses for the prosecution in God’s court against all who refuse to repent. Another heart check, my friends.–JMB