The Story
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
The Words of Jesus
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Mat 4:1-4 NIV
Background
While it may seem odd to us, it was the Spirit that led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil - that much is clear. The tempter (always the opportunist) came to Jesus at a time of vulnerability; Remember, He had not eaten for forty days and was hungry.
The tempter made his appeal with food; something that would have met the immediate physical need; but what he was really after was to gain an advantage over the identity of Christ; Remember he prefaced the temptation by saying “If you are the Son of God” - as if turning stones to bread would somehow prove that.
Jesus (by stating “It is written”) showed us that the way to win the struggle against temptation is with the truth of God’s word. While Satan appealed to an immediate physical need, Jesus showed that the word of God is a greater, more valuable, more necessary source of nourishment. The more we know the truths of God's word the more we find ourselves "not ignorant of his devices" and can avoid succumbing to temptation.
Application
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Some of the trials we experience are by God’s design. But know this...if we are led by the Spirit into the wilderness it is to gain experience in the battle; it is to bring us victory. It is never to see us defeated.
The Lord takes us into the wilderness to give us victory.
When David brought food to his brothers (1 Sam 17) who were in the war, I think it was by God’s design. The Lord’s plan was to give David a great victory. David heard the taunting of Goliath, and the rest is history.
Psa 144:1 Of David. Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
He knows our strength and will never allow us to be tempted above what we are able.
1Co 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
More important than my daily bread
The temptation to fulfill an immediate need at the expense of something of greater value is common to man. As an example, I think of the story of Esau, who for a single meal, sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Heb 12:16
May we, like Job, come to this commitment. (Job 23:12) “I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” His word will guide us and help us gain wisdom regarding true value.
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