Asking For Signs

A derecho is in the forecast.
The word, derecho is Spanish meaning, “straight”.
A derecho is a straight-line windstorm with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms.

We have our weather maps and our satellite storm tracking.
We have our signs.

When leaves show their undersides, be very sure rain betides.

Red sky at morning, sailor’s warning. Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.

Is there truth to the folklore?
Before we had our scientific instruments to predict weather, we relied on the power of our own observation.

The leaves of deciduous trees will often turn before a heavy rain.
The leaves react to the sudden increase in humidity that usually precedes a storm.
The soft stem of the leaves become limp allowing the wind to flip them over.

Animals can usually tell when a storm is approaching.
They will become agitated and restless and want to stay close by.

Children will often jump in bed with their parents during a thunderstorm.
That closeness and need of protection drives them there.

If you listen to your child, you will hear your own words repeated.
The words you use to comfort them will be the very words they use to comfort their dolls and stuffed animals during a storm.
Those words reassure them…as they repeat them back to themselves.

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested Him by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.  He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today will be stormy for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus left them and went away.  (Matthew 16:1-4)

Jesus did not like when people asked for signs.
Asking for signs showed a lack of faith.

We are not much different from the people in Jesus’ time.
We bargain.
God, if You would just______then I will believe.

Sad thing is…we wouldn’t.
We would explain it all away with our boring empiricism and scientific explanations.

We need to see proof!
Jesus gave us all the proof we need.

A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.

The sign of Jonah.

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:40)

Jesus’ death and resurrection is the only sign we need.
How can God the Father show us more than that?
What more proof do we need?

The derecho in the forecast is only one type of storm.
There will be others.

Daily, we each have our own storms in our lives.
Sometimes we see them coming.
Often, we don’t.

What matters is where we run for protection.
We are not much different from the little child who jumps into his parents’ bed.

We, too, want to be close to our Father in the storm.
We, too, want to be reassured by His words.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

We repeat His words back to ourselves in the storm.
We know where to run.
To the Risen Lord Jesus…the only sign the Father will ever give us.
The only sign we will ever need.