![\"\"](\"https:\/\/PineyMountainFoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/Exam-Test.jpg\")
<\/a>Personally, I have a hard time accepting that God needs to test us to see if we are ready to move to another level.\u00a0 God is omniscient: meaning He see\u2019s everything, not just now but past and future as well.\u00a0 As such, He knows us better than we know ourselves.\u00a0 Why would He need to test us?\u00a0 Further, I cannot find anything in the Bible that says we are being \u201ctested\u201d, as in an examination to determine our knowledge of a subject or proficiency in a sport, when we encounter difficulties.\u00a0 But that does not mean there is not a purpose behind it.\u00a0 For in fact, even God\u2019s own Son was subjected to trial.<\/p>\nIn Luke chapter 4<\/a> we have the account of Jesus being led into the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Did God lack confidence in Jesus?\u00a0 That is doubtful, for God had just said that He was \u201cwell pleased\u201d in Jesus.<\/p>\n The chapter opens with the statement that Jesus was \u201cled\u201d into the wilderness.\u00a0 The word translated as \u201cled\u201d is the Greek word \u201cago\u201d (ag\u2019-o) which means to carry, bear, bring, or lead.\u00a0 Jesus did not wander off into the wilderness on a whim, He was obeying the command of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n Here He was tempted (which means severely tried) by Satan.\u00a0 Three instances are recorded and these three are significant in that they match the pattern of temptation of Israel: \u201cturn this stone to bread\u201d correlated to the hunger and provision of manna (Exodus 16<\/a>), \u201cAll this authority I will give to you\u201d correlates to the experience at Massah (Exodus 17<\/a>), and \u201cIf you are the Son of God, throw yourself down\u201d correlates to the golden calf in Exodus 32<\/a>.\u00a0 Where Israel failed, Jesus succeeded.<\/p>\n Jesus did not subdue Satan through logical debate as would the Greeks, or physical confrontation as the Romans did with adversaries.\u00a0 In each case, Jesus refuted Satan by quoting scripture.\u00a0 Hebrews 4:15<\/a> tells us that Jesus was tempted in all ways, as we are, therefore we too can escape Satan\u2019s temptation if we hold to the scriptures.<\/p>\n Surely, Jesus\u2019 trials in the wilderness were not corrective action, but to be instructive (to us) and to fulfill prophesy.\u00a0 We, however, not being as attuned to God\u2019s will as Jesus: may occasionally need corrective action.\u00a0 In Hebrews 12, verses 5-11 the writer quotes Proverbs 3:11-12:<\/p>\n 11<\/sup>\u00a0My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,<\/em> 12\u00a0For whom the Lord loves He corrects,<\/em> Job 5:17-18 tells us: “Happy is the man whom God corrects”.\u00a0 Just as a human father who loves his child will \u201cchasten\u201d or correct (provide guidance) a child whom he loves, God also offers direction\/correction when we step out in rebellion and self-will.\u00a0 The severity of the redirection will be commensurate with the strength of our willfulness.<\/p>\n 1 Peter 5:10<\/a> tells us that our suffering for God (that \u201cfor God\u201d part is important) serves to perfect us (which does not mean flawless, but complete) establishes us in faith, strengthens us, and settles us in God\u2019s will.<\/p>\n 1 Corinthians 11:32<\/a> states that we are sometimes chastened by the Lord so that we are not condemned with the world.\u00a0 That statement seems confusing: if we are saved, and if salvation is forever, how can we be \u201ccondemned with the world\u201d?<\/p>\n This is a tricky topic, and one I have written on before.\u00a0 To pursue that topic I encourage you to read Revocable Salvation<\/a>.\u00a0 God will attempt to redirect us when we are on the wrong path and heading for danger, but if we are insistent on following our own will rather than God\u2019s it is possible for us to march ourselves into separation from God\u2019s favor and mercy.<\/p>\n Job 23:10 and Psalm 66:10<\/a>, refer to God using trouble to purify our faith just as silver or gold is refined by burning away the impurities.\u00a0 These do not say God causes the trouble, just that He uses it.<\/p>\n James chapter 1 states:<\/p>\n 2<\/sup>\u00a0My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3<\/sup>\u00a0knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4<\/sup>\u00a0But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.<\/em><\/p>\n To further complicate the matter, sometimes (more likely: oftentimes) we fall into trials and trouble because we have made poor choices and the trouble we’re in has nothing at all to do with God.\u00a0 The Bible tells us that God can work all things to our good, so even these can be turned into a lesson if we will listen.\u00a0 But don\u2019t go blaming all your troubles on God!\u00a0 More often than not, if you\u2019re in a mess: you got yourself there.<\/p>\n When we make decisions in our own wisdom, we often end up with less than ideal results.\u00a0 When we take counsel from God in all things, they work out better.<\/p>\n So, how do we know if we\u2019re being tested, or purified, or redirected \u2013 or if this is just our own mess?\u00a0 Listen to God.\u00a0 He speaks to us through The Word.<\/p>\n If you are reading the Bible daily and opening yourself to Him, God will show you amazing things!\u00a0 He will teach you patience.\u00a0 He will give you wisdom.\u00a0 But you have to shut out the noise of the world and actively listen for God\u2019s voice.\u00a0 He does not speak to us in a thunderous bellow.\u00a0 It\u2019s more a tickling of the mind, and it comes primarily through God\u2019s Holy Word.<\/p>\n -*-*-*-<\/p>\n Sometimes life as a Christian is a mountain-top experience: life is going our way and it is easy to be content and at peace. Other times we encounter difficulties and we may ask God, “Why am I going through this?” We may wonder if we are being tested or even punished. Does God Test His … Continue reading “When Led Into the Wilderness”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[78],"class_list":["post-17040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-matters-of-faith","tag-christian"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17040","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17040"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17040\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21422,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17040\/revisions\/21422"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17040"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17040"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Godly Correction<\/h2>\n
\n Nor detest His correction;<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Just as a father the son in whom he delights.<\/em><\/p>\nPurification<\/h2>\n
<\/a>But if we pay attention to God, especially when we find ourselves in uncomfortable situations, God can use the situation to build our faith and strengthen our bond with Jesus.\u00a0 He will direct us back onto the path of righteousness and away from danger.<\/p>\nOur Own Doing<\/h2>\n
How Do We Know?<\/h2>\n
<\/a>If you are not reading it, you are navigating the seas of life without a chart.\u00a0 So when you hit a reef, it is your own fault for sailing forth in the haughty ignorance of mankind.<\/p>\nAll scripture taken from the New King James Version\u00ae.\u00a0 Copyright \u00a9 1982 by Thomas Nelson.\u00a0 Used by permission.\u00a0 rights reserved.<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"