God's Response to Prayer Requests for Scripture Signs
Prayer, understood as direct address to God, involves the soul's converse with the divine [8]. The Scriptures present prayer as a command, urging believers to seek God [1]. This includes praying to God the Father, to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit, always through Christ [1]. The Bible describes various postures and expressions of prayer, such as bowing the knees, looking up, lifting up the soul or heart, pouring out the heart, calling upon the Lord's name, and crying to God [1].
God is consistently depicted as hearing and answering prayers [1, 3, 4, 5]. The "call-answer motif" is frequent in the Old Testament, illustrating the petitioner's close relationship with the Lord [11]. For instance, Psalm 4:1 states, "Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!" [4]. Similarly, Psalm 6:9 affirms, "The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer" [3]. The prayers of God's people are understood to reach God's presence, indicating that God hears them and is prepared to act [10].
While prayer is a general command, the specific request for a "sign" from Scripture is also noted. In Isaiah 7:11, the prophet tells King Ahaz, "Make a request to the Lord your God for a sign, a sign in the deep places of the underworld, or in the high heavens" [2]. This passage suggests that God can respond to requests for tangible or extraordinary demonstrations of His presence or will.
God's answers to prayer are not always immediate; they can sometimes be delayed or even differ from the petitioner's initial desire [7]. However, answers are promised, especially in times of trouble, and can even exceed expectations [7]. These answers are granted through God's grace and are received by those who earnestly seek Him [7]. The earnest prayers of God's people are heard and answered [12].
The Scriptures themselves are considered inspired by God and the Holy Spirit, serving as the "Word of God" and "Word of truth" [6]. Christ Himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them [6]. Therefore, when believers pray for guidance or signs, they are engaging with a God who has already provided a primary means of revelation through His written Word [6]. Access to God in prayer is made possible through Christ and by the Holy Spirit, obtained through faith [9]. This access is a privilege for saints, allowing them to approach God with confidence [9].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
- Isaiah “Isaiah 7:11 (BBE) — Make a request to the Lord your God for a sign, a sign in the deep places of the underworld, or in the high heavens.”
- Psalms “Psalms 6:9 (BSB) — The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.”
- Psalms “Psalms 4:1 (NASB) — Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.”
- Psalms “But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation. -- Psalms 69:13”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Answers To — God gives -- Ps 99:6; 118:5; 138:3. Christ gives -- Joh 4:10,14; 14:14. Christ received -- Joh 11:42; Heb 5:7. Granted Through the grace of God. -- Isa 30:19. Sometimes immediately. -- Isa 65:24; Da 9:21,23; 10:12. Sometimes after delay. -- Lu 18:7. Sometimes differently from our desire. -- 2Co 12:8,9. Beyond expectation. -- Jer 33:3; Eph 3:20. Promised -- Isa 58:9; Jer 29:12; Mt 7:7. Promised especially in times of trouble -- Ps 50:15; 91:15. Received by those who Seek God. -- Ps 34:4. Seek God with all the heart. -- Jer 29:12,13. Wait upon God.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 8:3: 8:3-4 The prayers of God’s people ask for God’s ultimate justice and judgment (6:10-11; see also 5:8; Ezra 9:5-6; Ps 141:2; Dan 9:21). The mixture of incense and prayers that reaches God’s presence shows that God hears their prayers (see Rev 6:9-11) and is prepared to act.”
- 1 Kings (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Kings 18:37: 18:37 The call-answer motif appears frequently in the Old Testament, often depicting the petitioner’s intimate relationship to the Lord (Job 14:15; Pss 4:1; 91:15; 102:2; Isa 65:24; Jer 33:3).”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 12:5: 12:5 the church prayed very earnestly: God answers the earnest prayers of his people (12:6-17; see Luke 11:1-13; 18:1-8; cp. Matt 7:7-11; John 15:7; Phil 4:6-7; Jas 5:16; 1 Jn 3:22).”