Understanding the definition of faith is critical to understanding the purpose of gifts in the Dispensation of Grace. We must always remember that if it something that is seen, it is not faith.
Hebrews 11:1,6: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
John 20:29: Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Romans 8:24-25: For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
As we saw in Exodus 4:1-8, it was God who instituted signs for the nation of Israel. They would follow the signs from the 10 plagues in Egypt to the Red Sea opening, to the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, to the manna and quail being provided in the wilderness, to the water pouring forth from the rock, etc, etc, etc. Signs drive the nation of Israel!
1 Corinthians 1:22-24: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks (Gentiles) seek after wisdom (to understand): But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.1 Corinthians 14:22: Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not (Jews): but prophesying (teaching the Word) serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
We will walk through all the historic events surrounding tongues (unlearned and unknown to the speaker – actual spoken languages) in the Book of Acts of the Apostles next Sunday. Jews were always in attendance and the focus of the miracle. Acts 2:1-11, 10:44-48, 19:1-7