I have heard people ask why God doesn’t write His name in the sky or do something spectacular, so everyone will believe in Him. Wouldn’t that make things easier? I think there are reasons why God does not do such things. First, sensational events don’t necessarily make us follow God. Look at the old covenant people of God in the day of Moses. They saw the parting of the Red Sea and some of the greatest signs and wonders in history, and they still did not believe God. Likewise, in the day of Jesus many saw the miracles Jesus performed and still rejected Him. They said things like “He has a demon!” For many miracles are only miracles if they say what we want them to.

If God did the wonders we would like Him to do, I fear we might get addicted to “the show” rather than coming to know God. In John chapter six, the people loved the fact that Jesus fed thousands with five loaves and two fish. Yet, when He offered them the bread of life the second day, they rejected Him. They wanted the show but they did not want Jesus.

Likewise, many in our day thirst for signs and wonders, yet never look beyond miracles to what the miracles are saying. The signs point to the kingdom of God. The kingdom is what God wants us to see.

This begs the question of what it really means to “see” God. In the old covenant, many saw mighty things yet did not believe. Yet, there are many who never have seen a miracle, yet love God and their neighbor. Of these, who really sees God?

Perhaps if God did sensational things at our whim, it would actually be counterproductive. It might even keep us from knowing God. The fact that God does not put on the kind of show we think He should also tells us something about the nature of God. He is far more interested in us coming to see Him and know Him in love. Likewise, the greatest way we can prove God to the world is not in putting on a show, but by loving our neighbor as God loves us. Love is the only power against which there is no argument.