"Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah."
Deuteronomy 6:16 (NIV)
The LORD brought His people out of Egypt, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. He brought them out with an abundance of goods and people, and He destroyed the military threat against their continuing freedom. The Israelites are free and they are rich! The LORD then led them into the desert and when the people got thirsty, they asked, "Is the LORD among us or not?" (Ex. 17:7)
The LORD brought His Son into the world, with a mighty hand and outstretched arm. His Son was free from the ruthless taskmaster of sin. His Son declared His intention to live in submission to God and His Father told all creation that He was pleased with His Son. Then God led Him into the desert and when He got hungry, He refused to check to see if the LORD was really with Him.
Jesus refused to test God. He refused to force God's hand to prove His Presence, for Jesus knew that the desert was a test for Him not for God. Friend, may we realize that the desert experiences are there to test us and refine us. May we resist the temptation to play the devil's game and make them about testing God. May we have the attitude of Job when he replied to the temptation to curse God for the trouble in his life: "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. (Job 2:10)
Job said a lot of things to God. He asked "why" over and over again, and he demanded an audience with God. Yet, Job did not for a moment, doubt God's presence. The LORD is with us in the desert!
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
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