Day 10

Passing The Test

(2) Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. (3) He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭8‬:‭2‬-‭3‬

The story of the Bible begins with God creating a world out of nothingness and chaos, into an orderly beautiful space for Adam and Eve to rule over. Humans are set apart, being given free will to make a choice: to trust God or their own wisdom.

Then comes the first test from God, that they are allowed to eat everything in the garden except for the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

This may sound cruel; God testing humans. However test could also be an opportunity instead of a trap. The difference lies on the motive of One testing you.

As you read through the Bible, there’s a repeating pattern of God testing humans: Cain (Gen 4:7), Abraham (Gen 22:2), David (1 Sam 24), Israel in wilderness and Israel in exiles. Notice how humans keep on falling short to keep the other end of bargain.

Until Jesus.

Who is fully God, and fully human. Who went through 40 days without food and water in wilderness, who was tempted to prove Himself, with wealth and power, yet He overcame. Even passing the ultimate test of sacrificing His life for all our sins.

As fully human, Jesus also struggled to pass this test, where He also prayed that may this cup be taken away from Him, yet not his desire but God’s be done (Matt 26:39). We learn by example how Christs trusts God’s wisdom more than his own, loving others more than Himself, and confronting evil with good.

Up till now we’re still being tested everyday, and these tests might be difficult and even painful. But take it as an opportunity to surrender to God’s wisdom and to be shaped into His likeness.

As Apostle James said: consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (Jam 1:3-4)