Testing God

Matthew, ch4 has the very familiar temptations of Jesus in the desert by Satan. We've heard that Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be purified for His assignment (so to speak). Satan came to test his resolve. He first hit him with physical pains of hunger. Jesus had not eaten for 40 days, so naturally, he was pretty hungry. Satan told him to instruct the stones to become loaves of bread. Seems harmless eh? Jesus is hungry after all. But Jesus answers with scripture from Deuteronomy (8:3). Next Satan tries to get Jesus to desire power by showing him the highest point in Jerusalem. Satan even quotes scripture from Ps 91 that angels will protect him. Jesus responds "You must not test the Lord your God" (Deut 6:16). Testing God. How often have I done just that. I give God "ultimatums" or requirements. I'll think things like "God if you just do this, or make this happen, I will believe more and follow you more closely". Let's be honest here, we all have these thoughts. Do we understand what we are doing? We are very selfish creatures, that is why we became separated from God in the first place! How often do we twist scripture to fit our "agenda"? We read it as to how we want to apply it. We must realize first that it was not written "TO US". It was actually written over 2,000 years ago. There are timeless principles that can be applied in our life, but we need to be careful to remember that the discussions between people in the Bible are not directed at us. So when Satan tempts, Jesus by telling him that angels will protect, he is misusing scripture in that way. In fact, Satan leaves out the verse just previous to the one he quotes which says "If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter". Satan was not trying to call on God's goodness to protect Jesus, that is why Jesus responded as he did. Notice one last thing. Jesus' response to Satan is direct. He doesn't accuse him of treachery, and does not engage him in argument. He merely responds to Satan's attempts. Is that meekness that Jesus talks about later? Meekness is not weakness, rather it is strength under control. Try it sometime. Be careful, as will I, about testing God. He is not at our "beckon call". He is to be worshiped and honored.