Temptation/Test/Trial
Written by:
Dr. Harold Sawyer)
How about a little extra bible class on Sunday?
It is there for you, it is there for me and it is there for everyone in the world. What is it that is there? Temptation. Let’s look at just a little bit of what the bible says about temptation/test/trial.
There is some overlapping in the Greek words translated by these English terms. They occur infrequently in the Old Testament (OT), But the New Testament (NT) develops these concepts of temptation, testing, and trials.
OT:
1. Testing
NT:
2. Temptation
3. Testing
4. Trials
5. Summary
OT – 1. Testing in the OT. Three Hebrew words are translated “test” in the NIV and NASB: nusah, sarap, and bahan.
Nasah occurs thirty-six times in the OT and indicates an attempt to prove the quality of someone or something. Often a time of pressure and difficulty constitutes the test. God tested his people at the time of the Exodus to “see whether” they would follow his instructions (Ex. 16:4; cf. 20:20; Dt 8:16; Jdg 2:22)
But human begins have no right to test God (Dt 6:16), unless specifically invited by God to do so (Mal 3:10), the word here being bahan) The historic incident referred to in Dt 6:16 is instructive. God had promised to be with his people and had demonstrated his presence in the fiery cloud that accompanied them. Yet Israel demanded proof, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Ex 17:7). Because God is totally trustworthy, demanding proof of his power or presence is an insult, demonstrating a failure to walk by faith (cf.Mt 4:5-7)
The word sarap means “to smelt or refine.” It refers to the process by which gold or silver is refined. This process is used to illustrate God’s purification of his people, usually through judgment (e.g. Jere 6:27-30; cf. Eze 22:18-22;). The NIV translates this word seven times as “test” or “tested” (Ps 17:3; 26:2; 66:10; 119:140; Isa 48:10; Jer 9:7 Zec 13:9).
Bahan Also means “to test,” specifically in the spiritual realm, with a focus on some quality, such as integrity. It has the sense of an examination designed to prove the existence of the quality sought. It is found twenty-nine times in the OT (Ge 42:15, 16; 1 Ch 29:17; Job 7:18; 12:11; 23:10; 34:3,36; Ps 7:9; 11:4,5; 17:3; 26:2; 66:10; 81:7; 95:9; 139:23; Pr 17:3; Jer 6:27; 9:7; 11:20; 12:3; 17:10; 20:12; Eze 21:13; Zec 13:9; Mal 3:10,15),
While testing may involve the believer in difficult circumstances, God’s purpose for us is always good..
May the Lord Jesus Christ touch, Bless, Strengthen, and heal you is my prayer. Have a great day in Jesus.
| 2.5 |
Tags: New Testament, Old Testament
I believe God is trying hard to improve me by recurring tests, trials, and temptations! I believe that once I overcome some things, God will consider me learned in that area and move me on to another test, trial, and temptation, but maybe not! At times, I feel it difficult and impossible, almost to the point of cruelty, to keep being faced with some of these things and expected to overcome. But when I do pass the test and am an overcomer, I feel just a tiny step closer to being like Him! And because of that, I must agree with the bible class; God’s purpose for me is always good!