⁷ Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ (Matthew 4:7 ESV)

In this second temptation, the enemy uses scripture to try to tempt Christ. He sites where it says that God would command the angels concerning Him least He strike His foot upon a stone. Christ was to be an unblemished lamb when He went to the cross.

However, He too knew His Father and was not going to put this to the test. He was being a respectful Son. He was not about to test the Father to show his adversary that God favored Him. Christ had nothing to prove!

When we decide to put God to the test regarding one of His promises we are being sinful. We may want proof about something we feel like He has promised, but this proof may turn out to our detriment. You see, while God loves us unconditionally and wants the best for us He is not someone we can put to a test. God’s promises are not answered under duress. He answers in His way and His time.

We may get very frustrated with this, but it is how God works and it is also how He helps us mature in our faith. Not all immediately answered prayers are for our good. Doing so too quickly can create a sense of entitlement. The same sense of entitlement that is rampant in our world today because everyone thinks they are owed everything they want.

God is not in the habit of raising spoiled children. He wants us to become a faithful people who are good stewards of what we are given.