THE VOICE BEHIND EVERY SIGN FROM GOD

Shalom, and welcome as we explore the Scriptures together.

Every sign carries a message a voice behind it. For example, when dark clouds gather, we know rain is coming. The clouds themselves don’t speak, but their appearance serves as a natural sign communicating an impending event.

Similarly, God often speaks to us through signs. Sometimes, His voice is direct and unmistakable. At other times, His voice is veiled within signs, requiring discernment to perceive the message. This aligns with biblical teaching that God uses various means nature, circumstances, prophecy, even visions to communicate with His people (Hebrews 1:1-2, NIV: “In the past God spoke… through the prophets… but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son”).

The purpose of God’s voice is always to teach, comfort, or warn us (John 10:27, NIV: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me”). Yet many fail to recognize His voice because they expect God to speak only in familiar ways.

Isaiah highlights this spiritual deafness:

Isaiah 50:2 (NIV)

“Why was there no one to answer when I called? Why was there no one to listen when I stretched out my hand? Was my hand too short to rescue you? Do I lack the strength to save you?”

This verse expresses God’s frustration with people’s failure to recognize His call even though He is reaching out.

A vivid example comes from the Apostle Peter, who was warned by Jesus through a sign. Jesus said:

Mark 14:29-30 (NIV)

29 Peter declared,

“Even if all fall away, I will not.”
30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today yes, tonight before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.”

Jesus combined verbal prophecy with a symbolic sign the crowing rooster to prepare Peter for the coming trial. This sign was not mere coincidence but a deliberate divine message.

When the moment came, Peter denied Jesus three times, just as predicted. The crowing rooster served as the audible sign, a wake-up call meant to remind Peter of his weakness and prompt repentance. But Peter initially ignored it. It was only after the second crow that Peter fully realized his sin and repented (Luke 22:61-62, NIV).

Theologically, this illustrates God’s patience and mercy. God often repeats His warnings, hoping His people will repent (2 Peter 3:9, NIV: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise… not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance”). It also demonstrates that God’s communication can be layered both direct and symbolic and requires spiritual sensitivity to understand.

If God used a rooster to warn Peter, how often might He use people, animals, or circumstances to warn us today? Scripture teaches that God can use the whole of creation to communicate His will.

(Psalm 19:1, NIV:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands”).

Ignoring these signs is dangerous. On the day of judgment, we won’t be able to claim ignorance of God’s voice if we have repeatedly heard His warnings in various forms (Hebrews 2:1, NIV:

“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard…”).

God’s voice is often hidden in what seems insignificant or weak like the crowing rooster or even the talking donkey that God used to warn Balaam (Numbers 22:28-30). This reminds us not to dismiss small or unexpected signs but to seek God’s guidance continually.

Maranatha.

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