During devotions yesterday I was struck by something I read in Luke 4 when Jesus was being tempted by the devil. After being led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, Jesus was met by Satan. Few knew or were convinced of Jesus being the Christ at this point in history, the promised Messiah God sent to save sinners. But Satan knew. Because he knew Jesus was the Son of God and desires to oppose God at every turn, he tempted Jesus to forsake His lofty station ordained by the Father.
The first thing Satan did was appeal to His physical needs by telling Jesus to prove He was the Son of God by turning stones into bread. Then he offered Jesus the power and glory of all the nations of the world if Jesus would worship him. Finally the devil told Jesus to leap from the pinnacle of the Temple - likely in the sight of many people He would amaze - and even supported this course of action with scripture! An ordinary man would have stumbled at these temptations, but Jesus replied most wisely in Luke 4:12, "...It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'"
Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6:16 that says, "You shall not tempt the LORD your God as you tempted Him in Massah." This prompts the question: how did the children of Israel tempt the LORD in Massah? Exodus 17 describes the scene which unfolded shortly after God brought the Hebrews out of bondage in Egypt. The euphoria of victory and deliverance quickly evaporated in the arid heat of the wilderness when the people had no water to drink. The people angrily accused Moses of bringing them out in the wilderness to kill them! In his great distress Moses cried out to the LORD and God told Him to go with the elders, take the rod in his hand, and strike the rock in Horeb and God would cause water to flow from it. Moses obeyed the LORD and God supplied water for the people, their families, and livestock.
Exodus 17:7 holds a key to understanding the answer of Jesus: "So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?" The way the people tempted God was to doubt He was among them. The people questioned whether God was among them in Massah, and the Jews in the days of Jesus wondered the same thing. They wondered if John the Baptist was the Messiah, and others asked concerning Jesus despite signs and wonders confirming the Word, "Is this not the Christ?" Satan offered a path to acceptance with the people, but Jesus knew His path must go through suffering of the cross and to rise from the dead in glory. Jesus is the "LORD your God" whom Satan tried to tempt: He was Satan's LORD and God he refused to submit to. Jesus Christ is the LORD over all, and all authority has been granted to Him in heaven and on earth.
How awesome is the LORD our God Jesus Christ, also called Emmanuel which means "God with us." In the days of Moses God tabernacled in the midst of His people, and Jesus has prayed the Father to send the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts. Jesus has gone to the Father but has not left us without comfort, for the Comforter dwells with us; He resides within and upon us. Matthew 18:19-20 reads, "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Praise the LORD, for He inhabits the praises of His people! Instead of tempting the LORD our God, let us trust, praise, and obey Him now and forever.
The first thing Satan did was appeal to His physical needs by telling Jesus to prove He was the Son of God by turning stones into bread. Then he offered Jesus the power and glory of all the nations of the world if Jesus would worship him. Finally the devil told Jesus to leap from the pinnacle of the Temple - likely in the sight of many people He would amaze - and even supported this course of action with scripture! An ordinary man would have stumbled at these temptations, but Jesus replied most wisely in Luke 4:12, "...It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'"
Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6:16 that says, "You shall not tempt the LORD your God as you tempted Him in Massah." This prompts the question: how did the children of Israel tempt the LORD in Massah? Exodus 17 describes the scene which unfolded shortly after God brought the Hebrews out of bondage in Egypt. The euphoria of victory and deliverance quickly evaporated in the arid heat of the wilderness when the people had no water to drink. The people angrily accused Moses of bringing them out in the wilderness to kill them! In his great distress Moses cried out to the LORD and God told Him to go with the elders, take the rod in his hand, and strike the rock in Horeb and God would cause water to flow from it. Moses obeyed the LORD and God supplied water for the people, their families, and livestock.
Exodus 17:7 holds a key to understanding the answer of Jesus: "So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?" The way the people tempted God was to doubt He was among them. The people questioned whether God was among them in Massah, and the Jews in the days of Jesus wondered the same thing. They wondered if John the Baptist was the Messiah, and others asked concerning Jesus despite signs and wonders confirming the Word, "Is this not the Christ?" Satan offered a path to acceptance with the people, but Jesus knew His path must go through suffering of the cross and to rise from the dead in glory. Jesus is the "LORD your God" whom Satan tried to tempt: He was Satan's LORD and God he refused to submit to. Jesus Christ is the LORD over all, and all authority has been granted to Him in heaven and on earth.
How awesome is the LORD our God Jesus Christ, also called Emmanuel which means "God with us." In the days of Moses God tabernacled in the midst of His people, and Jesus has prayed the Father to send the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts. Jesus has gone to the Father but has not left us without comfort, for the Comforter dwells with us; He resides within and upon us. Matthew 18:19-20 reads, "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Praise the LORD, for He inhabits the praises of His people! Instead of tempting the LORD our God, let us trust, praise, and obey Him now and forever.
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