Don't Tempt Me!!

Lent:
It's only for 40 days or so. The idea of posting thoughts about various Scriptures whose readings are associated to Lent arose from a conversation with my mother in 2016. I promised her I would post something each day in Lent. I see no reason not to continue this new "tradition."

In this first passage God is talking to His people through Moses when they are homeless and have been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. It is good for us to remember that God is God, that He is faithful and that He is never absent. All we are, and all we have, He created and He gave us; we should be grateful ... our context then is created and provided by God. Lent challenges us to consider our response to God and the impact our response has on what was a perfectly balanced global economy. Consider Paul's 2nd letter to Corinth chapter 8 as we consider precisely what is ours (nothing) and what is God's (everything).

Deuteronomy 26:1-11
When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, "Today I declare to the LORD your God that I have come into the land that the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us." When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the LORD your God, you shall make this response before the LORD your God: "A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the LORD, the God of our ancestors; the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O LORD, have given me." You shall set it down before the LORD your God and bow down before the LORD your God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house."

In the story of Jesus we find a mindset; a way of thinking that shapes how we engage others. What would motivate God to take on human flesh and suffer with us? He could have chosen to simply stop sustaining the universe and it would have simply dissolved away and He could start over with a clean fresh canvas. But He chose differently.

Luke 4:1-13 - the suffering continues
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.

The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'" Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

In this passage we might notice a trend or theme developing.

We notice satan first tries to suggest the basic necessities of life are more important than obedience to God. Jesus rebukes Him not with human words but with the Word of God - He quotes the Bible. Next satan offers power and wealth in exchange for leaving God. Again Jesus quotes Scripture. Third satan tries to foster doubts of and challenges to God. Here again Jesus replies with Scripture - but I think there are two things going on in this last challenge. First Jesus is rightly saying we must be humbly submitted to God - creatures do not behave like this to a loving Creator. God is faithful and true so to doubt and challenge Him is completely unacceptable. But I think Jesus is also saying enough is enough - don't test and don't try ME! This is Jesus declaring that to doubt, test, tempt and challenge Him is to doubt, test, tempt and challenge God. Jesus does not reply to the challenge - He rejects the very premise of satan's challenge "You shall not put me, YOUR God to the test."

This narrative significantly adds to the Biblical theme of trusting God and knowing His love. It is also a strong response to the Biblical question "Who is Jesus?" If we get this question right then all of Scripture forms together in the revelation of God's love.

We humans must concede our knowledge, wisdom and understanding is limited. God's is not! His is complete and completely perfect. We obediently submit to God because His Way and Judgement is perfect and is offered in Love.