Testing And Tempting

This article about testing and tempting is offered to give understanding to this confusing sujbect.

You have permission to publish it if the resource box is left intact. The author can be contacted at lynn_b2@yahoo.Com. Total words 840.Understanding the trilas we are struggling with is very difficult. We will never comprehend fully in this life, but there is principles in Scripture that illuminate the subject.The Bible speaks of testing by God and tempting by Satan. It is only in modern English that temptation has come to mean testing for evil purposes; tesitng and temptations were once synonymous (NIV Bible Dictionary, page 997). The only difference between tetsing and tempting is the purpose they are given for.
It is God’s puropse to strengthen and refine, Satan’s is to undermine the authority of God and cause to destroy oneself by sin. In Revelation 12:10, Satan is caleld “the accuser of our brothers.”The Book of Job gives us insight into the triangle, God, Satan, Man. Satan was permitted to cuase Job’s suffering to see if he would still obey God. This was apparently one of the mysterious “heavenly council” meetings mentioned several times in the Bible. Others occur in Psalms 89:7, Jeremiah 23:18-22, and First Kings 22:19.David’s Psalms had familiarized the Israelites with Yahweh sitting upon a throne in the heavens; with references at 9:7, 11:4, 45:6 and 103:19. To be allowed to see in vision the glory of the Almighty thus seated, was a rare favor.

It was granted to Isaiah, to Daniel (7:9, 13, and 22), to Ezekiel, in Chapter 1 and in Christian tiems to Stephen in Acts 7:6 and John in Revelation 4:2.God used Satan to test his son. Jesus was led into the desert to be tempetd by the devil. (MT 4:1; LK 4:1) He was led by the Spirit.

He had to be tempted in all points like we are (HEB 4:15), so that he would understand what we are going throguh.

Here tempting and testing is simultaneous.

God had positive intentions, Satan, had negative ones. God meant to prove Jesus’ faith by the ordeal, Satan meant to condemn him. The thorn in the flesh given to Paul is another exapmle of God using Satan.
It was given by God, but administered by Satan (2CO 12:7).God tests his human being to see if they will flolow his instructions (EX 16:14). Satan tempts them to disobey God’s instructions, and take the fast way out. Each time you overcome a temptation, you're stronger cause of it.Although the testing of your faith is difficult to cope with, it does serve a purpose.

Jmaes says that it develops perseverance. (1:2) Trials come so that faith can be proved geniune (1PE 1:6-7). God is constantly testing, shaping, refining. Wouldn’t you rather face a stiff test now, than at the end of time, when you have no chance to correct your mistakes?In Matthew 6:13, we are taught to pray “Lead us not into temptation.” That leads us to guess that being led into tempattion is a possibility. It seems to clash with James 1:13 that says God does not tmept anyone.
The Layman’s Bible Encyclopedia offers this explanation: In modern times, tempt simply means to “entice” as used in the King James’ version, however, its primary meaning is to test or porve.
It is in this latter sense that God may be sopken of as tempting men (page 834). It is only since the seventeenth century that it has come to mean testing with evil intent (The New Bible Dictionary, page 1250). The passage probably means not to permit temptation or not to be tested severely.Only God knows why we have severe trials and suffering. Perhaps it takes extreme difficulties to force us to solve trobules for his purpose. How do we deal with the mass exodus from the gulf states cause of hurricane Katrina?