Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - TEMPTATION

TEMPTATION

In Luke 4:12 it says:

“you shall not tempt the Lord your God.”

This same phrase is also repeated in Matthew 4:7 and in Deuteronomy 6:16. The matter seemed to come up initially during the Exodus, when in the desert, with no water to drink, the people confronted Moses saying:

…Give us water that we may drink…

(Exodus 17:2) 

And Moses replied:

…Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord? 

(Exodus 17:2)

Although the complaint was made against Moses, the actual accusation was really against God. There seemed to be no relief in the area to which they had been led, implying that God was leading them astray and could not fulfil the promise He had made to them. It was almost a dare for Him to fulfil what He had initially promised.

But do we not still do the same today? How often do we get ourselves into some mess of our own making and then blame God for not having us avoid it? Similarly, when we have direction to do or not do something and then just do the opposite anyway, don’t we often do just the opposite of what God has requested we do and then blame Him if something does not go the way we would like?

Or even more to the point, are we not often told to obey certain instructions for our own good, e.g. masking during COVID, but, because we are under God’s protection, refusing to do so and as a result almost ordering God to keep us safe even though He has allowed competent people to give us proper instruction? In a different way, have people not dared God to strike them down when they speak out against Him? It is reported that Benito Mussolini reportedly called out to God: 

God, if you are there, strike me dead*

His arrogance and temptation of God initially seemed to go unchallenged but it apparently was not that long after when Italy began to lose the war and Mussolini was eventually executed. When God did not strike him dead shortly after he uttered the dare, Mussolini decried God to be non-existent but God works in His time, not ours.  

…God cannot be tempted by evil, 

nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away 

by his own desires and enticed.

(James 1:13-14)

[So] come together so that Satan does not 

tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 

(1 Corinthians 7:5)

When we decide not to do what is right for us, or to do just the opposite, or to disobey evident sound instruction and rail against such, it’s not God tempting us but rather ourselves tempting God. Our temptation comes from Satan, so struggling against rules and instruction or complaining because things just don’t seem to be going right is not indication that God is tempting us but rather that we are being tempted by Satan to disobey and complain. 

Being tempted is never good and if one feels tempted; well, this then is something to think about. 

*The Evidence Bible, p.g. 1391