A Sound of Hope in the Wilderness
Matthew 4: 1 - 11
When we read the first verse, it is interesting that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. Often, we associate God’s guidance with positive settings or happy occasions. However, in this case, the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The question arises: why is this temptation or test necessary? At first glance, the reason might not be immediately clear. However, when we consider the story of Israel in the wilderness, we begin to see a connection. In the Old Testament, the Israelites also journeyed through the wilderness. Additionally, we read that Jesus fasted for 40 days, which echoes the 40 years that Israel spent in the wilderness. So, what is the significance of temptation or testing in our lives?
To answer that question, let’s look at Deuteronomy 8:2: “And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” From this passage, we understand that God’s purpose in guiding Israel through the wilderness was not to destroy them but to test their hearts and to see whether they would obey His commandments.
Self-knowledge is crucial from a Christian perspective. Often, we have distorted views of ourselves, becoming overly confident in our abilities. This is why the experience of temptation in the wilderness is so important—it humbles us, teaching us to rely on God rather than on our own strength.
We know that the Israelites failed miserably in the wilderness because they did not obey God’s commandments. In contrast, in the New Testament, we see the story of the “new Israel”—the Son of God—who overcame temptation. In verse 3, the tempter says, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” Here, the devil challenges Jesus’ identity. This temptation is familiar to us today, as many of us struggle with defining our own identities. In our world, identity is often built on achievements, with people saying, “Tell me what you’ve accomplished, and I’ll tell you who you are.” If you have no achievements, you may be seen as insignificant. The devil tempted Jesus to prove His identity by turning stones into bread, implying that He could only truly be the Son of God if He performed such a miracle.
Interestingly, Jesus does not respond to this provocation. Christianity is not about proving our identity or responding to every challenge. Instead, it’s about being content with God’s providence and trusting in what God has already given us. Of course, Jesus had the power to turn the stones into bread, but He chose to answer the devil with the words, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (verse 4).
Today marks the first Sunday of the pre-Easter season. This period is a time when Christians traditionally fast or abstain. What does this spiritual practice mean for us, and how is it relevant to our lives today? Christianity offers a countercultural message in this fallen world. While the world celebrates the amplification of human needs, Christians are called to reduce them. It’s not wrong to live by bread and water, but Jesus reminds us that life is not just about physical needs. There is also a deeper, spiritual hunger that must be nourished. Fasting helps sharpen our spiritual appetite.
The wilderness setting is dry, barren, and without attraction. It tests whether the people of God can be content with His presence alone. When we read about the life of Jesus, we can witness a very simple life of Jesus that He is always under His Father’s providence. He ate bread, but only as much as He needed, never overindulging. The same test applies to us: are we content with God’s provision in our lives?
In our fallen world, we often grow impatient and try to grab opportunities prematurely. We want to take matters into our own hands and seize what we think we need. This impatience makes it difficult to develop a spiritual appetite in a world focused on immediate fulfillment. However when we read in verse 11, at the end of the temptation, Jesus was served by angels. This shows that, after the testing, God provided for Jesus in His appointed time. So, as we face temptations and tests in our own lives, we are called to be content with what God provides, trusting that He knows what we need and will provide for us in His perfect timing. God bless us. (G.N.S.)