But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 NLT).
God loves you enough to make sure you understand the source of life. After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led him into the wilderness, where he was tempted. That’s right—the Holy Spirit led Jesus to a dry place, a tough place, a place of need. And at that place, the Devil came to tempt him. Jesus was tempted like us, yet he did not sin.
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15 NLT).
Why would the Spirit lead Jesus to a dry place where he would be tempted? Before I answer that question, let me assure you if you are in a tough place, a dry place, a place of temptation, it does not mean you are out of God’s will. Tough times are not always the result of bad choices or wrong deeds. In fact, God sometimes leads his people through the wilderness to bring them to the promise. And the promise is more than land; it is the reality of God himself caring for and providing for his children.
The first temptation Satan threw at Jesus was a question of trust. Would Jesus exert His power and control to satisfy his hunger and turn the stones into bread, or would He trust the Word of God? Jesus repels the temptation by referring to the history of God leading the children of Israel out of captivity in Egypt, caring for them in the desert, and delivering them into the promised land. Look at the reference in Deuteronomy 8:2-5.
“Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.” (Deut 8:2-5 NLT)
It is easy to be driven by a hunger for words of affirmation. Our passions or problems can lead us astray. Each can tempt us to try to control the situation or complain and doubt God’s heart. But just as God fed the children of Israel daily with manna, he provides for His children today by His Word. The miracle of the manna was a daily miracle of trust. We, too, can find confidence in a God who leads us through tough times for our own good. We, too, can learn that every Word of God is for our good. Don’t waste the manna.
New Hope 