We are in Exodus chapter three with our word for today which is used 6 times in our chapter. אוֹת sign, mark, a military ensign, banner, warning, distinguishing mark. It is used 79 times in the Old Testament. We see it used in the sense of a miraculous event showing God’s supernatural power. Exodus 4:8-9 Then the Lord said, “If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first הָאֹ֥ת sign, they may believe the second. But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground.” Exodus 7:3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my אֹתֹתַ֛י signs and wonders in Egypt. Jeremiah 32:21 You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with בְּאֹת֣וֹת signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. We also see our word used in the non-miraculous way as any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message. Exodus 13:7-10 Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year. This is the same way our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 3:12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the הָא֔וֹת sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” So when Moses brings the people back to the mountain he will interpret that as a sign that God has definitely sent him to lead his people into the promised land. Which we will see God accomplished. I’ll close with probably one of the most amazing signs God has given us sending his son into the world in a miraculous way. This miracle of incarnation God becoming flesh tells us that Jesus came saved us from our sins and is coming back again for us. Isaiah 7:10-14 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a א֔וֹת sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a א֑וֹת sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Matthew 1:20-23 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
