FAITHFUL IN TEMPTATION – PART 1

In John Bunyan's book, [Pilgrim's Progress], a man named Chris is making his way from this world to the next, encountering pitfalls, dangers and monsters along the way. The Slough of Despond, Apollyon, Vanity Fair, Doubting Castle and Dark River are just a few of the obstacles that stood in the path of his journey. For example, as Chris passes by a hill called Lucre, a man named Demas beckons and offers the riches of his silver mine. Chris hurries past, realizing the danger, but others immediately take the invitation of Demas, to their great regret. As they greedily climb up to look into the mine, they lose their footing and fall into the pit where they sink into the depths. Chris escaped the temptations that swallowed others because he obeyed the words of the Great Book that started his journey. That Book tells us that we too, can escape temptation because YHVH, our Elohiym, is with us on our journey. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but YHVH is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. -- 1 Corinthians 10:13. As we contemplate YHVH's faithfulness during our temptations it will be helpful for us to consider three aspects of temptation.

1 – The Certainty Of Temptation:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man… -- 1 Corinthians 10:13a. The Bible is quite clear in telling us that temptation is a certainty of life and gives us two basic reasons why that are true. Firstly:

A -- Temptation is common to Man:
In the immediate context Paul tells us about 5 different kinds of temptation that have assailed man since the beginning of time. The background to all 5 of these temptations is illustrated through the people of Israel: Moreover brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Moshiach. But with many of them YHVH was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-5.

A1 -- There is the temptation to Lust: Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. -- 1 Corinthians 10:6. This temptation to lust takes us all the way back to Numbers 22. There the Hebrew people despised the manna YHVH had provided for them and they lusted for the fish, cucumbers, melons, onions and garlic of Egypt. In other words, they lusted for those things that were outside of YHVH's divine provision. This is perhaps, one of the strongest temptations for believers. Despite all that YHVH gives us, in terms of His guidance, deliverance, assurance and sustenance, we look back to the life we once lived and long for it with fleshly desire. The tragedy of this spiritual state is that YHVH often grants our request, but in so doing sends leanness into our souls. Our bodies are satisfied, but our souls are hungry from spiritual malnutrition. We have wealthy purses, but impoverished hearts. Do you feel leanness in your soul today? If so, you can take it for granted that you have been craving something which is outside of YHVH's purpose for your life.

A2 -- There is the temptation to Idolatry: Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. -- 1 Corinthians 10:7. This is a reference to Exodus 32 where the people became restless and impatient because of the long absence of Moses when he was up on Mount Sinai. They asked Moses' brother Aaron to fashion a god which they could worship and sacrifice to. It is recorded that Aaron took golden earrings which the people provided, he melted them down in the fire and with an engraving tool made a golden calf. When he finished the people said: these are your gods O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt. So, they claimed the calf as god and then they indulged in unrestrained singing and dancing. The reference here is to the festivities and debauchery which were associated with idol worship. In the very act of such worship their lower passions were unleashed. What a warning this should be to us who live in an age of accentuated idolatry. Think of the many things people have substituted for YHVH: an affluent lifestyle in terms of their clothes, homes, cars, a preoccupation with work and the adulation of film and music stars, an excessive interest in sports and the pursuit of pleasure. As believers we often go through the outward motions of attending church and reading our Bibles, but know little of the inward reality of a life with Elohiym. Whenever we depend upon some thing, instead of the eternal One we have fallen into the temptation of idolatry.

A3 -- There is the temptation to Fornication: Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. -- 1 Corinthians 10:8. If you will read Numbers 35 carefully you will observe how the children of Israel prostituted their liberty in YHVH by courting the daughters of Moab. This was an [unequal yoke] which YHVH had forbidden. Because they disobeyed YHVH judgment came upon the people and 23,000 perished in one day. When a person gives into the temptation of sexual immorality, they are on a downward course which is not easily turned around.

A4 -- There is the temptation to Unbelief: Neither let us tempt Moshiach, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. -- 1 Corinthians 10:9. Paul's illustration here is from Numbers 21. The people had become weary of the journey and began to speak against YHVH and Moses. They tested YHVH in the spirit of unbelief and [were killed by snakes.] How easy it is to become weary in well-doing and begin to test YHVH with our unbelief. Instead of exercising faith in His ability to work all things for our good and His glory, we hinder His working in our lives and in our churches through unbelief. YHVH has to judge this. Just as He sent the serpents in Moses' day, so today He allows satan to attack us with his deadly poison. Nothing keeps YHVH from working out His purpose in our lives more than the sin of unbelief. When Yeshua was in His hometown we are told: And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. -- Matthew 13:58).

A5 -- There is the temptation to grumbling: Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. -- 1 Corinthians 10:10. Undoubtedly, Paul had Numbers 14:2 in mind. The occasion was the evil report brought by the 10 spies concerning the giants they had seen in the land of Canaan. This led to grumbling and YHVH's displeasure so He overthrew the children of Israel in the wilderness. This is a solemn lesson for us; perhaps the reason YHVH forbids so many believers from entering into the fullness of the blessing of life in Canaan is because of the sin of grumbling. It means, [To complain or mutter against] and is undoubtedly the most popular of all the sins I have just commented on. YHVH says that the penalty for giving into this temptation is exclusion from all that Canaan represents in terms of victory, fruitfulness, and rest in Moshiach. So here we have 5 temptations that are common to man, but we would do well to remember that.

B -- Temptation is common to Moshiach:

We must remember that Yeshua is the Son of Man as well as the Son of YHVH. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. -- Hebrews 4:15. In the wilderness satan tempted Yeshua in the areas of Spirit, Soul and Body, yet Moshiach triumphed gloriously. He faced the temptation in the Garden of Gethsemane, the temptation of accepting some easier plan and accepting the [cup] of suffering on the cross of Calvary. Even while hanging on the cross He was not beyond tempting. Reviled by two thieves and those who passed by, He was urged that if He was truly the Son of YHVH to come down from the cross and save Himself. If Yeshua Moshiach was tempted like that how can we expect to be excluded from similar testing? The answer is that we cannot, because temptation is a certainty. The second aspect of temptation we need to contemplate is: