Bible Studies for Life: April 23
The Temptation to Rely on Myself Instead of God • Deuteronomy 8:2-10; Matthew 4:1-4
By Laura Lee Leathers
Sitting at my outside office desk preparing to write this short commentary, I checked my emails. One announced that Dr. Charles Stanley passed away this morning, April 18th. He was ninety.
The email had his picture and the tagline, “Celebrating a Life of Obedience.” I never met the man, yet I felt like I knew him by reading his writings, listening to his sermons, and learning about his life journey.
Over the years, I have purchased several of his books. My favorite is, How to Let God Solve Your Problems. Why? Because Dr. Stanley consistently points to Scripture for the answers. “What does God’s Word say regarding your situation?” is the general theme.
At the book’s onset, Dr. Stanley starts with Psalm 23:4 and writes, “Either you can struggle against life’s difficulties, or you can turn them over to the Lord and ask Him to give you the wisdom and strength you need to handle each one. When you commit your life to Him, He will take care of all that concerns you. That is His promise.”
Whatever you and I are facing today — trials or temptations — we can ALWAYS go to God’s Word to find the ability to stand firm with courage. Let’s look at the model Jesus established for us.
We are often tempted to satisfy God-given desires in the wrong way (Matthew 4:1-4 NKJV). Our lesson begins with Jesus in the wilderness. He was baptized and “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
“The biblical concept of ‘tempting’ is a test to demonstrate genuineness, faithfulness, and character. Jesus did not pretend to be tempted; His temptation was real. These temptations affirmed His qualification to be God’s Messiah and our Redeemer” (The Woman’s Study Bible, Dorothy Patterson and Rhonda Kelley, Editors).
Jesus, knowing all things, spent time in preparation. He fasted forty days and forty nights. Physically, He was hungry. Spiritually, He was prepared.
Three times the devil came to Him, each time presenting a different temptation. Notice the words, “If you are the Son of God…” (vv. 3, 6).
For the first temptation, the devil suggested Jesus turn some nearby stones into bread.
The second temptation involved jumping off the pinnacle of the temple and then calling for angels to save Him.
The third time, the devil offers Jesus the kingdoms of the world.
At the onset, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” If this was Jesus’s defense, shouldn’t this be our defense also — Scripture and obedience.
We can be tempted not to trust God’s provision (Deuteronomy 8:2-5). It was a new day, with a new generation about to cross over into the Promised Land but first, it was time to restate the Law and remind the people to obey God.
“Remembering is for our encouragement. It is to give us assurance for the future,” wrote J. Vernon McGee (Thru the Bible Commentary Series, The Law, Deuteronomy).
What were they to remember? The Lord led them, fed them, and didn’t let their clothes wear out. He also humbled them. He tested them to reveal what was in their hearts and if they would obey Him.
Did they? In many moments, they were tempted not to trust God’s provision. Doubt crept in and caused a demanding, complaining attitude throughout the camp. They also had an issue with waiting upon God’s timing, causing them to take matters into their own hands.
Physically, God provided the miracle food manna. It gave them everything they needed nutritionally. Spiritually, God provides the manna to meet our individual needs.
God provides when we trust and obey Him (Deuteronomy 8:6-10). Starting with verse six, notice the three things the Israelites were to do: (1) Keep God’s commandments, (2) Walk in His ways, and (3) Fear (reverence) Him.
How would God provide for the nation in the new land? Make a list starting with “a land of brooks of water.”
They would lack nothing (v. 9). They were to see the all-sufficient hand of God as they presented their needs to Him. He wanted them to trust and obey Him. The same is true for us.
Let’s end today’s lesson with a statement from J. Vernon McGee: “God has been good to us. He has blessed us in many, many ways with material things. The important lesson is that God gives us those things in order that we might see that there is a spiritual wealth, the Word of God. It is the Word of God that is the real wealth for the Child of God today.”
I’m sure Dr. Charles Stanley would give a resounding, “Amen and tell us to rely on Him!”
Leathers is a member of First Church, Lexington. She may be contacted at laura.l.leathers@gmail.com.