Based on Matthew 21:18-22

MEMORY TEXT:  “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done” (Matthew 21:21).

An old woman earned a modest living selling her produce along the roads of her village.  When she would come to an intersection, she would toss a stick into the air.  Whichever way the stick landed would determine which way she would go.  On one occasion she was seen tossing the stick into the air not once but three times.  When asked why, she replied, “Because the first two times it pointed in the direction I didn’t want to go!”

You may not toss sticks, but do you sometimes ask God for signs?  If you do, you’re not alone.  God works in mysterious ways, and when we don’t see the results we want when we want them, we sometimes become anxious and fearful.  When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the enemy, he prayed that his frightened servant would be assured that the Lord would protect them, and so the servant’s eyes were opened to see the hills full of horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:17).

Gideon tested God when he demanded particular signs as the condition for obeying a divine commandment.  When he made these demands, Gideon must have been aware that he was provoking God, because he prayed, "Let not Thine anger be hot against me" (Judges 6:39).

Scripture admonishes us to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).  To ask for a sign may be our way of demanding that God reveal His plan so that we can give our approval or disapproval.  And if His plan does not please us, we feel we have the right to make whatever changes we feel would give a better outcome.  It’s one thing to plead with God and even complain to Him, but it’s another thing to attempt to control God.

Better than asking for signs is asking God for faith to see how He’s already working in our lives.  “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass" (Psalm 37:5).