How can Jesus help us deal with temptation?
Jul 13, 2010
The Base for Grace - part six in a study from the book of Hebrews
Mike Gaudet
Temptation.
We can’t escape it.
We need help to deal with it.
How can Jesus help us deal with temptation?
“For surely it is not angels he (Jesus) helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:16-18
We are “tempted” when we experience unmet needs and unfulfilled desires. In the “wilderness of wanting,” the frustration created by inflamed desires tempts us to believe that God is no longer with us. Just ask the Israelites.
The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.” Exodus 17:1
As the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, they did not have to wonder about the will of God. If the cloud moved it was God’s will for them to move. If it stopped, it was God’s will for them to stop. The cloud led them to a place without water . . . and then stopped. Since they would have used up much of their water en route to Rephidim, they were in dire straights.
“So they quarreled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ Moses replied, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?’ But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, ‘Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?’ Then Moses cried out to the LORD, ‘What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.’” Exodus 17:2-4
They “quarreled with Moses” even though it was God who led them to a waterless place. They “picked a fight with someone their own size.” Although he was following the same cloud they were, they pinned the blame on Moses. They were “almost ready to stone” him.
God tended to their physical needs. He provided water.
“The LORD answered Moses, ‘Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.’ So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.” Exodus 17:5-6
God also tended to their spiritual needs. He provided wisdom.
And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, ‘Is the LORD among us or not?’” Exodus 17:7
God confronted the Israelites because of how they treated Moses. “Meribah” means quarreling . . . the attempt to use anger to get what is needed. God confronted the Israelites for quarreling with Moses.
God confronted the Israelites because of how they treated Him. “Massah” means testing . . . he attempt to determine the faithfulness of a partner or colleague who is under suspicion. God confronted the Israelites for testing Him.
Repeated exposed to hunger and thirst in the wilderness created doubts in the Israelites’ minds concerning God’s care and faithfulness. They “tested” God when they demanded that He meet their needs in order to alleviate their doubts.
Unbelief was the root problem. Anger toward Moses was the by-product of unbelief toward God. The Israelites reasoned that God would never lead them to a place without water. Moses must have made a mistake! They assumed that the presence of thirst equaled the absence of God.
Times haven’t changed much!
We still quarrel with others when we don’t get what we want. When we experience chronic need we assume that someone did something wrong. We direct our anger at those we consider responsible.
We still quarrel with others because we don’t believe that God can be trusted. This is tougher for us to see. It is even tougher to admit. In God’s eyes, though, “horizontal demanding” rises from “vertical doubting.”
God understands this. He knows that difficult circumstances cause us to doubt Him. He knows that doubting Him causes us to make demands of others and ourselves.
God knows that we need His help if we’re to trust Him “in the wilderness.” He experienced life in a mortal body so that He could provide this help. Jesus Christ “suffered when he was tempted.” Because God the Son experienced temptation firsthand, “he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
How does Jesus help us to deal with temptation?
Jesus speaks to us.
He tells us that God sees us. Jesus assures us that God the Father knows the impact that difficult circumstances have on our trust in Him.
He tells us that God sympathizes with us. God understands the impact of hunger and thirst because Jesus experienced life in a mortal body firsthand.
He tells us that God deals gently with us. It is hard enough to deal with temptation. The added burden of guilt and condemnation makes it intolerable.
He tells us that God loves us. He invites us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Jesus walks with us.