Luke 11:29

Luke 11:29 (ESV)

When 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.”

Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and came out to proclaim God’s judgment. Ninevah listened. Jesus would be in the grave three days. His resurrection would be the only sign this crowd would receive. Why? Because they had already heard him and refused to believe. Their Messiah was right in front of them and they wanted more proof. The truth is that when he rose from the dead they still refused to believe. Their minds had been made up. He didn’t fit their expectations.

It makes me wonder how many of my expectations about God are crafted by the Scriptures and how many are products of my own experiences, culture, and training. What if God is at work in a way I have dismissed? What if he chooses to close a church that I prefer to stay open, or plant a church where I don’t think it will grow? What if he chooses to speak through someone other than me or those whom I would choose? What if he starts a revival when I think the world is at its darkest? Am I so locked into the need to be right that I can’t admit when I am wrong? Is my heart tender enough toward him to recognize when he is at work, or is my heart so hard as to require a sign when no sign is needed?

How often ego has quenched the work of the Spirit. These are damning words that Jesus speaks, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” May that not be true of us.