Yes—God used signs and miracles throughout Israel's history because the Jews demanded signs and needed visible proof that God was at work.
Paul wrote that the Jews require a sign (1 Corinthians 1:22), and Les Feldick traces that pattern from Moses' rod before Pharaoh to Jesus' three years of miracles. The supernatural signs proved God's presence and confirmed His messengers. Les also shows that the signs in John's Gospel carried specific lessons for the nation of Israel.
1 Corinthians 1:22 — Paul explicitly says the Jews require a sign, which is the reason signs and miracles were used throughout Israel's history.
1 Corinthians 14:21 — Paul quotes the Law to show that foreign tongues were also a sign to Israel—a warning of foreign occupation.
Paul writes that "the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom" (1 Corinthians 1:22). This helps explain the place of the miraculous in Israel's history. In 1 Corinthians 14:21 he quotes the Law: "In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord." These verses show that signs, including the tongues of foreign nations, were a stated part of God's dealings with Israel.
Les Feldick repeatedly points to 1 Corinthians 1:22: the Jews require a sign. He says this was true from Moses onward; God constantly used the supernatural to show Israel that He was at work and that His messengers were genuine. From the shepherd's rod becoming a serpent, to the repeated signs before Pharaoh, to the miracles of Jesus, the same pattern appears. Les stresses that Jesus spent three years performing signs and miracles "to prove to those Jews who he really was." He also teaches that the signs in John's Gospel were more than wonders—each carried an intrinsic lesson for the nation, with seven signs before the crucifixion and one after the resurrection. By contrast, Les teaches that believers today do not need a manifestation of the miraculous to trust what God has said.
Les shows that from the start of Israel's history, God used signs to convince the people. When Moses approached the children of Israel, he threw down the rod and it became a serpent, and they believed because they saw the signs. Later, Moses and Aaron used the same kind of sign before Pharaoh to get his attention and to prove they were representatives of the God of Israel. Les also notes that Pharaoh's magicians did the same thing through the power of Satan, showing that signs can be counterfeited.
Les answers that Jesus performed miracles to prove who He was to the Jews. The Jews were always looking for a sign, and even came to Jesus asking, 'Show us a sign.' Les says Jesus spent three years performing signs and miracles up and down the land of Israel for this purpose. In John's Gospel, Les counts eight signs—seven before the crucifixion and one after—and each sign had an intrinsic lesson for the nation of Israel.
Les explains that Paul referred to the Law when he wrote about men of other tongues and other lips speaking to 'this people.' Les says this pointed to foreign nations that would invade and occupy Israel. The Jews would hear languages they could not understand while being occupied, and this was a warning to the nation.
Les says that today believers do not need a manifestation of the miraculous in order to believe and trust what God has said. Israel, he explains, had to constantly see proof of God, so the miraculous was commonplace for them. This is the contrast Paul draws when he says the Jews require a sign.
Tongues as a Warning to Israel
Les explains that Paul's quotation from the Law about men of other tongues meant Israel would one day be occupied by foreigners whose language they could not understand—a warning to the nation.
The Jews Require a Sign
Les Feldick stresses that 1 Corinthians 1:22 describes the Jews: they require a sign. He shows that from Moses onward God used signs and miracles as proof, and this pattern continued all through Israel's history.
Israel's Need for Constant Signs
Les teaches that Israel had to constantly see the miraculous as proof of God; today we do not need such a manifestation to believe what God has said.
Jesus' Miracles Prove Who He Is
Les directly answers why Jesus performed miracles: to prove who He was. The Jews were always looking for signs, even saying, 'Show us a sign.'
Signs Bring Belief to Israel
Les points out that when Moses performed the signs before the children of Israel, they believed because they saw them. He then says Jesus' three years of signs and miracles were to prove to the Jews who He really was.
The Rod Before Pharaoh
Les recounts how Moses and Aaron threw down the shepherd's rod before Pharaoh and it became a serpent. He also notes that Pharaoh's magicians did the same through Satan's power.
Israel's Dependence on Signs
Les teaches that from Moses all the way up through their history, the Jews had to have signs to be convinced of what God was saying and doing.
The Signs in John's Gospel
Les says the signs in John's Gospel were more than miracles—they were signs with intrinsic lessons for Israel. There are eight signs in John: seven before the crucifixion and one after.
1 Corinthians 1:22: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
Paul states the foundational reason signs were used with Israel.
1 Corinthians 14:21: In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
Paul quotes the Law to show that foreign tongues were a sign to Israel.
Because the Jews required a sign. Les Feldick explains that from Moses to Jesus, the supernatural was God's way of proving His presence and confirming His messengers to Israel.
Les says Jesus performed signs and miracles over three years to prove to the Jews who He really was. They were always looking for signs, even asking Jesus to show them a sign.
Les says you and I today do not need a manifestation of the miraculous to believe and trust what God has said, but Israel did.
Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 1:22 that the Jews require a sign. Les shows this nature was evident from Moses through Jesus' earthly ministry.
Watch the Teaching: Tongues, Prophecy & Order in Worship - 1 Corinthians 14:14-40 Explained