Day 2

Deuteronomy 8-10

THIS IS A TEST

The Lord…led you…in the wilderness to humble you and test you – Deut. 8:2

            God tests us to reveal what is in our hearts.  The test is for us, not God.  He knows when pride is in our hearts.  We don’t.  Humility is impossible without God.  Pride is virtually undetectable without trials to reveal them.  It is natural to think we can do things in our own strength, that we always know what to ask for, or that we’re ready before God says we are.  Trials test our motives.  Motives are everything in serving the Lord.  If our motives are not humble, we are serving ourselves.

            It took 40 years of manna for Israel to learn that man shall not live by bread alone.  To trust God we must test Him.  This is necessary for us to understand that our lives are sustained by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord (8:3).  I am thankful that God has not answered every prayer.  Those unanswered prayers drive me to the Word, so I can live on a higher plain than the natural.  We discover the faithfulness of God as we test Him.  God said, Prove me … (Mal. 3:10 KJV).  It’s okay to put God to the test.  He has never failed one.  We test God every time we act upon His promises.  He passes every time.

            Until we live by the promises of God we find ourselves in a desert.  Every step of faith is a test.  Life is full of tests.  The Christian life has its own, but they are given by God so we can know Him as the God who is yet to fail a test.

            God’s people fail tests.  The reason God had Israel circle the wilderness was because they kept failing the tests.  They failed to look at their own hearts.  God knows our hearts.  For us to know our hearts we must look beyond our flesh to our spirit that cries out for God like the deer pants for cool water. 

When we hunger for the world, we need fresh manna.  We need to devour every word that comes from God.  Every word!  If you don’t know it, you can’t stow it.  As soon God’s word penetrates your spirit the Holy Spirit teaches you.  God may be testing you and waiting for you to know what (is) in your heart.  The first step is a humble step.

Baby steps are the most humble of all.