Don't seek for signs

Dear friend

"Red sky at night, shepherd's delight. Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning." (Some say it should be "sailor's".) As a rough weather forecast this rhyme has been around a very long time. Meteorologists can even explain how it really does work, so long as you are in the right country (such as the UK with prevailing westerly winds).

Not everyone knows that a form of these couplets actually appears in the New Testament. The Lord referred to it during His rebuke of those who came to him seeking a sign. The event is found in Matthew 16:1-4.

1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

I can just picture the unholy alliance of the pedantic Pharisees and the elitist Sadducees. These theological enemies were brought together with the common aim of decrying He who claimed to be the Christ. They wanted a sign, a miracle, some spiritual showmanship.

We may look down on these hypocritical hypothesisers, but do we ever "tempt" God to give us a sign, our own mini-miracle? I think it's very important not to try to force the Spirit or to presume/pretend a portent.

The red sky reference allowed the Lord to illustrate how readily available are many signs. This is how it is with most of God's guideposts. They are in plain sight so long as we have eyes to see them, rather than acting like the gainsaying generation.

I hope we will avoid adulterating our adoration by sign-seeking. Instead, let us watch and pray in patient faith for Deity's denotations.

Samuel.