There is a whole series of Biblical references to a time of
testing. These reflect on the testing of
individuals and groups of people as well as the human tendency to test
God. Testing God reminds me of the
Emergency Broadcast system that I grew up listening to on radio and TV.
“This is a test of the Emergency
Broadcast System… If this had been an actual emergency…”
Of course I grew up when the TVs were in black and white so
the symbol was not so colorful. But we
all learn that we just need to wait a minute while the system is tested. Recently I had a heart catheterization (when
I drop the middle “te” spell check wants to make it a cauterization – not sure
that would be good for my heart). It was
just a test to see if I had any problems that could be corrected with a stint
or for a more drastic need, open heart surgery.
But everything medical begins with a test – just a test. I often wonder if our relationship with God
does not get interrupted by “just a test”.
Either God testing us or we are testing God. Is it bad to test God? The Bible is ambiguous about the role of
testing God.
Some texts will tell
you not to test God:
“You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested
him at Massah.
Deuteronomy 6:16
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the
pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw
yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a
stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord
your God to the test.’” Matthew 4:5-7
Others encourage
testing:
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits
to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into
the world. 1 John 4:1
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be
food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I
will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing
until there is no more need.
Malachi 3:10
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
I liked Ron Julian’s article on testing God:
To test God means much more than trying to get Him to do a
miracle; to test God is to insist that He prove that He is trustworthy… Israel [name for the people who wandered with
Moses] and Jesus were not in the wilderness by accident; God led them there.
Neither is it an accident when life pushes hard at believers today. We can, if
we choose, interpret our troubles as evidence of God’s indifference. We would
be wrong. Because God loves us, He uses our troubles to confront us with the
spiritual issues we would rather ignore. Our eternal destiny is riding on the
choices we are making today: will we trust God in the midst of our troubles, or
will we put Him to the test?[1]
May you have a blessed Easter of joy filled new life! I dedicate this blog to my Lord and Savior
who purchased eternal forgiveness and new life for all of creation, Jesus the
Christ. Amen.
