A Sign From Above

The world’s largest sign was set up in Gloucestershire, England. Standing at 50 feet high, the sign stretched for 270 feet! The sign was actually raised as a humorous stunt at one of England’s premier horse racing tracks. Paddy Power, Ireland’s largest bookmaker, where people can place bets, decided to pre-empt the horse track’s primary sponsor for its marquee race in March 2010.

They concocted the plan to raise the gigantic Hollywood-style sign on Cleeve Hill, overlooking the racetrack. It took planners three years to design the white-lettered sign, and then it required a 60-man crew working a total of 1,000 hours to raise it.

One would think that everyone would be excited about the record setting sign. But just the opposite was the case. Officials from the racetrack and town were not enthused at all about the eyesore, ultimately threatening legal action if the company did not take it down. Paddy Power’s hand was forced, and they took it down after the race was over.

In Deuteronomy 27, we read about instructions Moses gave the children of Israel for when they crossed over the Jordan River. They were to set up large stones, whitewash them with lime, and then write God’s law upon them. The large stones, with the writing upon them, was to keep a reminder before the people of God’s law, His leading, and His claims on their lives.

God wishes to raise signs in our lives as well, reminding us of His leading in our lives. More than this, though, He longs to write His law upon our hearts (see Jeremiah 31:31–34), so that we, like David, will say that we “delight” to do God’s will (Psalms 40:8).

Key Bible Texts

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: (Deuteronomy 6:6 KJV)