The Wilderness

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

I have been looking at this verse over and over again. What is it saying, I know there's a deep truth here, but for some reason it is a mystery. I'm trying to draw it out, and the best I can come up with seems lacking.

Here I see just after an amazing time in His life Christ is then led into wilderness to be tempted, That God would not only allow us to be tempted but lead us into it seems unnerving to be honest.

But then again it is my wisdom - or rather lack thereof - that tells me that. Israel was lead into the wilderness to keep them from being dismayed by battles before they were strong enough, also God was able to meet Moses face to face because of there position and He showed Himself strong as a provider during this time. The old adage, If God brought you to it, He can get you through it.

After Jesus went to the wilderness (knowing it was the wilderness and still choosing to go) He was thrice tempted, and I think I can learn from each. First was on His authority, satan told Him if He was God He could turn the rocks into bread so He could eat (He'd been fasting). Jesus responded not by arguing with satan, but by quoting Scripture in it's proper context to remind Himself and satan what the Word is.

Then, satan proved he knew the Bible as well, he quoted Scripture (out of context). This lets me know that not only does satan know Scripture, He uses it out of context to manipulate the situation. In the garden he asked Eve, hath God said, then misquoted Scripture to lure her. We need to know Scripture, but we also need to know its proper context. Christ responded with Scripture in its own proper context.

Finally, satan tempted Jesus with a kingship that was rightfully His anyway. The only problem here was that it was before His rightful time, so to get it now he'd have to bow to satan. To me this rings loud, because I often want what is rightfully mine, but I just don't want to wait for it.
Here we see Christ waiting, powerful. Again He responds with Scripture.

I need to respond with Scripture in it's proper context to fight back against satan when attack, but is the wilderness just for my benefit? God forbid.

The previous chapter Mt 3:1 John was in the wilderness, and he was preaching there. I am suppose to minister to others regardless of my estate.
Lord help me to be a righteous testimony for you, regardless of whether I'm in the wilderness or on the mountain top.

Why?

Job 42:5-6 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. (6) Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

So many times I stop and ask, "Lord, why ...". It has been a steady theme (though at times it has decreased and others increased it has always been there). Recently I was talking to a friend and thinking, why do I ask "why?"

It seems a little simple, and it reveres the juvenile game of asking, "Why?" and being told, "Because", "Because, Why?" back and forth. I decided this was a problem for me and it needed a little more research, so I did a little investigating, below is what I found.

I am not alone, there are about 50 verses of people asking, "Why, Lord?" and 40 asking, "Why God?" In the midst of all these there are 2 passages that really stand out and have a crazy outcome.
John 9:1-7 is a good example (included at the end) The man was not blind due to sin, but rather the reason he was "suffering" from blindness was so God could show the world Christ had the power to heal. He was used to show the world Christ power, so it is sometimes in my life.
The other really awesome passage is in Job. Job is overtaken by a lot of trash even though the Bible declares he was righteous and after his 3 "friends" keep trying to tell him he is guilty, he starts to wonder and ask God, Elihu responds to him he is innocent, but thats not enough God say He will answer all of Job's questions if Job can answer one of God's. God takes 4 chapters to ask Job a list of questions, to which Job responds, oops. And realizes "Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Shall I give what I cannot keep, to obtain that which I can never loose? Will I lean on my own understanding, or will I acknowledge Him in ALL my ways? The question, "Why?" may present itself, but my response will be "Because God."

-Here's to accountability!-



John 9:1-7
(1) And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
(2) And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
(3) Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
(4) I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
(5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
(6) When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
(7) And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Genesis

So I haven't kept up with this at all. I think I'm just going to record some things I've noticed, or that I have been reminded of. I'll start in Genesis.

2:22 God brought Eve to Adam
2:18 This is where God said it was not good for man to be alone. Not to read too much into it, but besides Eve, I think it can be said with God as well, it is not good for us to be without Him.
3:6 Check this out, where was Adam when Eve was tempted? Next to her! What the trash, why didn't he protect her? Adam FAIL.
7:1 God was already in the ark, He said "come".
18:14 Nothing is too hard for the Lord, and He'll visit us according to the time.
20:6 Abimelech was held from sinning because of his integrity.
24:16 Rebekah's qualities...
24:27 he was "in the Way" when "the Lord lead" him
24:33 his lord's mission was more important then eating.. so it should be with our Lord
24:61 Rebekah "followed the man" she submitted
29:20 Rachel is worth 7 years of service - "it is but a few days" I want a women like that!
29:27 Rachel was worth 7 more years!
30:27 The Lord blessed Laban for Jacob's sake, and Laban knew it. Aren't we also blessed to be a blessing?
45:7 God sends us to save by a great deliverance
47:9 Our life is just a pilgrimage, until we finally get home!


That's all for now!