In our last post, we talked about how Elijah and Moses are archetypes of those who will enter Christ’s future Promised Kingdom. If you haven’t read it, you can access it here: The Hope Given Us Through Moses.

In that post, I raised two important questions: (1) Why are these examples important? and (2) Why were these acts achievable by these and not by others?

While I guess there are many proposed answers one could give, I think there are four that we should consider so we can understand this better.

1.      God had to overcome what mankind thought was the natural order of things.

Experience is not always the test of how things are supposed to be. People were living under a system they did not know was not the intended system for them. They had come to accept the world system for how they experienced it.

2.      But the world was not as it was supposed to be. Something changed.

Mankind was now operating under Satan’s rule and not under Adam’s. God had originally offered Adam a theocracy: an earthly rule with God leading Adam in his rule. Why was that not what was being experienced?

3.       God had to get mankind’s attention.

God needed to provide examples for mankind to ponder so they would recognize how their proper relationship was to be with Him. When things go against the norm, it makes one pause and ponder. Was it just a fluke, an abnormality, or is there something greater, something deeper, to consider?

4.      They reveal that the power of God is needed to restore what was lost.

These examples match with other scriptures to what God had planned for mankind’s future. As stated previously, these were examples of hope and as time went on, God provided more Scripture that further supported and substantiated what he had demonstrated through these examples.

So, if the world was not as it was to be, what caused it to change? For that, we need to go back to the beginning. In Genesis chapter 3, we find that Adam disobeyed God. Yet, the implication is that the act was more than just disobedience. Scripture tells us Adam actually rebelled against God. How do we know this? Consider these two verses:

As at Adam, they [Israel] have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there (Ho 6:7, NIV). God was saying Israel had rebelled against him just as Adam had rebelled.

And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner (1Ti 2:14). Some say this puts the responsibility of mankind’s consequences on Eve, but actually, Paul is implying just the opposite. He is saying Eve was deceived but Adam was not. He was there and did not stop her. He was in rebellion.

What was the consequence of rebellion brought onto the kingdom Adam was to receive? It seems mankind lost its dominion and power to Satan because Adam turned his dominion over to Satan by his act of rebellion. How do we know this? Consider the following Scripture references:

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only,’” (Mt 4:8-10, NIV). Christ did not tell Satan he did not have that authority. If he did not have that authority, it is very likely Christ would have called him out on that fact. So, for Christ not to do that, it means Satan really had the authority to offer this to Christ.

In addition, if Satan did not have this authority, then this would not have been a temptation to Christ. Satan was telling Christ he did not need to go to the cross and suffer so horrifically. He had the solution: he would give these earthly kingdoms to Christ and he could rule right then and there. Would that have been something to ponder? No suffering but still get an earthly kingdom. Christ did not even ponder this offer because it would mean utter ruin as Christ, the second person of the Godhead, would be subservient to Satan, a created being! No, that would never have worked and achieved what Christ came to accomplish. So, Christ’s answer was appropriate. Satan would not get worshipped. Christ is the one whom Satan should worship.

We then have this somewhat strange conversation in Job chapter 1: Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied, ”Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has in in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord (Jb 1:8-19, NIV).

It was only God’s hedge of protection that prevented Satan from doing as he pleased. What did Satan now have the power to do?

1.           Satan had the Sabeans attack and steal Job’s donkeys and oxen.

2.           Satan had fires destroy Job’s sheep and servants.

3.           Satan had the Chaldeans steal Job’s camels and kill his servants.

4.           Satan had a mighty wind collapse the house on Job’s sons and daughters where they were banqueting together.

This would indicate that Satan had the power to kill and destroy like any monarch of a kingdom would have the power to do. This lets us know Adam gave up quite a lot by his act of rebellion.

So, was all hope now gone? Oh, no. Of course not. That is not how God is or how he operates. In the midst of gloom, he always provides hope. Join me next week when we will see what amazing hope God provided. Until then. God bless.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

The first temptation that Satan presented to Jesus was, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread” (Mt 4:3). Was that a real temptation? Well, let me ask you, if you had not eaten for 40 days and nights would that have been a temptation for you? So, as usual Satan takes the cheap shot first. Interesting how he appealed to his human side at the same time as his godly side. Satan appealed to his physical need of hunger but stated that his godly side could satisfy his human need. Of course Christ could have done that. Would that have been wrong? I don’t think the action itself is the real problem. The real problem is the first word: if. Satan is in a very subtle way asking Jesus to prove himself. Satan did not say, “Jesus you are the Son of God. You are able to satisfy your physical need of hunger. You can make these stones become bread.” No, Satan said, “If you are the Son of God…” That is a big difference. One is acting on who Jesus is. The other is proving who Jesus is. Jesus does not have to prove Himself to anyone.

So, what was Jesus’ response? “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Mt 4:4; Dt 8:3). Was this a satisfactory response? Jesus was stating that his physical need is not more important than God’s purpose. Just because Jesus could do something was not enough for Him to fulfill it. Satan was saying, “Use your power to your own advantage. After all, who is going to know?”

Now, do you let your physical needs dictate your obedience? I know when I get really hungry I get irritable and impatient. That is when my guard is down, and I am probably less inclined to focus on how I could be a positive witness. I can become a little rude and get upset with people more easily. If I have just eaten, I am more likely to be more patient with people and a little more understanding. How about you? Does that sound like you as well? But Jesus stayed focused on the purpose God had for Him to accomplish. Feel like you have just been served a piece of humble pie. You can get your piece after I get mine!

Therefore, although a simple question, it hits us all at our very core. This shows how Jesus is to be our model. His response is not the typical response but was the correct response. No wonder we are told that Jesus should be our model. Next time, we will see how the bar is raised but Jesus rises to the challenge.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

The Bible states that Jesus Christ was tempted in every way as were we (Hb 4:15). Can someone who is both 100% God and 100% man be tempted as are we? Although the three temptations that are recorded which Satan presented to Christ after his 40-day fast may not be the only temptations that he faced, these are the ones we have the most detail about. Therefore, we should explore those and see what we can glean from what is presented in Scripture.

First, we should note that these three temptations are similar in type to how Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden. Satan appealed to physical need, pride and/or desire, and emotional need. That is, she saw that the fruit on the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was good for food (physical need), pleasing to the eye (desire), and good for making one wise (emotional need). Satan did the same with Christ. However, we know that Eve failed miserably but Christ was successful. We will examine the difference in how each responded to their temptation.

I think if we really think about the temptations that come our way, they will tend to fall into these three categories. If we look at how each responded to these temptations maybe that will help us to be more successful. Odds are, we will tend to fall on the side of Eve more often; yet, we can potentially have more successes if we know the tactics Satan is using.

The other thing to note is that although the category of temptation may be similar between the two (and among us), we will see that the actual temptations were tailored for each individual. Satan knows each person has different weaknesses. Therefore, what is a temptation to one person has absolutely no effect on another. I think that is another game Satan plays with us and sets a snare for us. Many times we see someone fall big time due to a certain temptation and we think, “Wow, he sure is weak,” and this sets us up to fall into our pride. Satan then gets a double run with a single hit. We need to be on guard for such things. We need to remember that everyone is struggling with something. Just because it is not the same as you, does not make it any less “big” for the person struggling with it.

This is a reminder that we should bear one another’s burdens and lift each other up – both with encouragement and with prayer. We can all be more effective if we feel and know we are not struggling alone. Let’s be the biggest advocate for our fellow Christians as we can be.

Next time we will look at the first temptation Satan extended to Christ and appealed to his physical need.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens