Tempted To Test God

A few weeks ago we talked about how God puts us through tests at times to strengthen our faith. But have you ever been tempted to test God? I came across this story about a little boy that tested God.

It was on the first day of elementary school. New central air conditioning units had finally been installed throughout the school. The little boy said he was new to this school but he already knew he had a crush on a girl in his class.

For some reason the idea came into his head to ask God for a sign so that he could know if the girl liked him. The sign that he chose was because the AC unit was on a thermostat, it would turn on and off automatically. So, the little boy wanted the AC to come on just at the moment he predicted. That would be his sign from God that the little girl liked him. He closed his eyes and waited and waited and waited, then he said, “now.” Nothing happened. Being determined, he tried again. Again, nothing happened.

This may seem childish to us but we can still be tempted to do the same thing as adults and put God to the test. “God, if You want me to take this new job, then let the next red light be green when I get to it. Or, God if you want me to just turn around and stay home from work today, let the next light be red when I get to it.”

These examples may seem a little absurd, but many times, without even realizing it we put God to the test. But because God is faithful, we don't need to put Him to the test. We simply need to trust Him and ask Him for what we need. As we said last week, God will provide. This message today is sort of an extension to last week's message. Again, we will be using portions of the New and Old Testament. We will pick up where we left off in Matthew 4 from last week. But first, let's pray. Prayer.

Is it okay to test God ? Let's see what the Bible says.

Matthew 4:5-7 – “Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” 7 Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”

And there it is. Do not test the Lord your God. Last week we saw that Satan initially tried to get Jesus to question God's provision. With his second temptation, Satan was tempting Jesus to question God's protection.

When we're afraid, a lot of times we ask God to be with us and protect us. Satan would like nothing more than to use those fears to undermine our faith in God. This is exactly what Satan tried with his second temptation directed at Jesus. Jesus had no reason to doubt the Father and His care for Him, but Satan was going to tempt Him to do just that.

40 days before this temptations, John the Baptist had baptized Jesus. I mentioned last week at that baptism, God spoke and declared, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” God not only loved Jesus but was pleased with Him.

Believe it or not, Satan knows Scripture very well, and he knew Jesus had come to save His people from their sins and bring them back to God. So Satan used Psalm 91: 11 - 12 to challenge Jesus to put God to the test.

Psalm 91: 11 – 12 – “For he will give his angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.12 They will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

If Jesus jumped off the top of the temple, which represented God's presence among His people, then Satan suggested that God would miraculously rescue Him in front of all the people gathered there. The people would see clearly that Jesus is the Messiah. If Jesus wanted to be recognized as their Messiah, this was a quick and easy way to make it happen. Or at least this was what Satan was tempting Jesus to think. But Jesus saw through this plan and responded again with Scripture.

Does God protect his children? Sure, He does. God protects His people as promised, but we don't need to knowingly put ourself in harm's way to find ways to force God to act. Jesus didn't need a test to prove God's faithfulness, nor would He try to take a shortcut on the path that was laid out by God's will.