God set the sign in the everlasting covenant. “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs,”. The light as signs should be read in the context of the separation of light from darkness.In v.3-4 God expresses His will, ‘Let there be light’ and the Son fulfills it, and it is made clear by the latter part of the verse. There was light.”And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” In v.4 we read that both parties approved. “It was good.” So God divided light from darkness. This provision in the everlasting covenant therefore shall never change. So the Spirit in organising the Scripture uses ‘forever’ in the direct frame of reference to the Son. Creation of sun, moon and the stars came further in the covenant. It is thus we have God as the Father of light while the Son is qualified as the true light. “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness”. Significance and relevance of any sign can only be derivative from this covenant. The difference between the covenant and the Law of Moses can be explained from the following passage. Jesus explains what is the work of God. “They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?”( John 6:30)
Then Jesus said unto them of his work. “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” At this they wouldn’t have any of it. (He.12:14) Without holiness no one shall see God and without faith understand him. God gave the Israelites manna which they hated and would even want to stone Moses, and to them Jesus as the bread from heaven as a sign and his work would mean nothing. So Sabbath was a sign which was set within frame of reference to the Son. “It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever.” (Ex.31:17). As with the sign mentioned earlier, without fulfilling the forever aspect of the everlasting covenant the Law of Moses is a law given to the servant. The covenant between God and Man is everlasting. It is meant to be holy for the reprobate stiff-necked people. “Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you.” God who sanctifies them has set his Son. “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”(1 Co.1:30)
“A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas”. Matt.16: 3-4
Jesus the word become flesh was the sign and it referred to the Father who sent him. So whatever signs the Jews sought belonged to a wicked and adulterous generation. Isaiah referring to his sons referred to another generation which owed it validity from the everlasting covenant. “Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.”(Is.8:16). God had determined beforehand what their names shall be. It applied to the spirit of the times, a specific threat from Syria. In relation to the national identity of Israel these two sons were living proof that His promises shall not fail. Signs based on the Generation of Jesus owed to the covenant. For this reason Jesus referred the sign of the prophet Jonah. It referred to the death and resurrection of his Son.,The writer to the Hebrews cites Isaiah in order to show the generation of Jesus covered the day God decreed for his Son.(Ps.2:7). ” Behold I and the children which God hath given me” leads us to the reason for the humanity of Jesus. Sanctification is what it meant. “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” So who sanctifies the people? (He.2:10-11). This shall throw light on the commandment on Sabbath. “Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.”(Ex.31:13) That ye may know.” Without this their disbelief made their generation, them hypocrites.
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