Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
(Matthew 4:7 NLT)
This famous line from Jesus is spoken to the devil during Jesus’ wilderness temptation. The devil had taken Jesus to the pinnacle of the tabernacle where he told Jesus to throw Himself off, because God has promised to protect us. To which Jesus responded, “You must not test the Lord your God.” (NLT)
I have often wondered what, exactly, this meant. How can we … test … God?
Though most English Bible version use the word “test”, the King James Version, the one I grew up with, says: “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.” (Matthew 4:7 KJV). This one has me even more confused! Just how does throwing yourself off the temple … tempt … God?
One of the things I do from time to time is read scripture in French. This is partially to maintain my French in the English environment I live in; but it is also because it helps me to see different meanings in Scripture, meanings that I never saw before in the far more familiar English translations. And this is exactly what happened when I read Matthew 4:7 from La Bible du Semeur — a modern French translation — this morning: “Tu ne forceras pas la main au Seigneur, ton Dieu.” Roughly translated, “testing God” and “tempting God” is translated in this version as, “You can’t force God’s hand”.
Suddenly the whole concept of testing and tempting God became clear to me. When we “test” or “tempt” God, we are trying to force His hand!
In the context of Matthew 4, the devil is telling Jesus to jump from the highest point of the tabernacle, because the Bible promises that angels will protect us. The devil is asking Jesus to do something He wouldn’t otherwise have done for the sole reason of seeing if God will keep His promises!
I don’t think you or I will be likely to find ourselves climbing to the highest point of any building with the purpose of throwing ourselves off to see if God’s angels will catch us. But don’t we also try to force His hand?
Take, for example, the time you willfully followed the path of temptation. Maybe your friends are going out drinking. Despite the fact that you are a recovering alcoholic, you decide to go along. How could it hurt? Hasn’t God promised to give you strength to overcome temptation?
Or maybe you have recently renounced and repented of sins of immorality. But your wife is away, and you pick up your phone. Why not see how some of your rather immoral contacts are doing? I mean, hasn’t God delivered you from immorality?
Or perhaps you are short on money, but you can’t resist taking advantage of that excellent sale! How often do you see 60% off? Hasn’t God has promised to provide for all of your needs. Doesn’t “need” include the rent and food you won’t be able to pay for if you take advantage of this sale?
It could be that the temptation to test God, to try to force His hand, is much more subtle than any of these. Maybe you need to go out on your bike, but your helmet is missing. Oh well, you’re just going to be gone a few minutes, and hasn’t God promised to protect you?
I could give many other examples, but we tend to put God to the test in so many different situations in our lives. Yes, God has promised to protect/deliver/provide/etc. But God never intended us to purposefully put ourselves in situations where His protection/deliverance/provision/etc. are required! Rather, He has strongly instructed us to stay away from temptation: “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” (2 Timothy 2:22 NLT). He instructs us to, “…humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7 NLT).
Do you want to fully experience God’s deliverance? God’s protection? God’s provision? They are, indeed, promised and secure for you. However, Jesus’ message in Matthew 4:7 urges us to not push the hand of God by purposefully putting ourselves into situations where His protection/provision/deliverance/etc. is required! Wear your helmet! Fasten your seatbelt! Avoid temptation! Be temperate in how you use your time, your money, your talents. Choose your friends wisely. Avoid putting trash in front of your eyes on TV or at the movies. Choose your music wisely. There are plenty of times when God’s provision/protection/deliverance/etc. will be required without us knowingly putting ourselves in the paths of trouble. There will be plenty of occasions for God to keep His promises without us testing or tempting God, without us forcing His hand!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries