When Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, being tested by the devil, the actions of testing were actually actions that cast doubt on the authenticity of God and His power. You see, demons knew Jesus Christ (Luke 4:41). However, knowing Jesus Christ and believing and following Him is another matter. In the desert, the devil knew Jesus was God but tested God, by asking him to perform miracles and actions that defy nature. Jesus responded by saying “you shall not put the Lord God to the test” (Luke 4:12) As a matter of Christian teaching, a follower of Jesus Christ is afforded protection from harm (Mark 16:18). But this protection is not a consequence of pushing God into a corner, demanding that He perform signs and wonders to prove His authenticity. This is testing God, in reality saying “I really don’t believe in you” or “I am jealous of your power.” A right relationship to God in relation to His power is to demonstrate faith in His almighty power and glory. We need to trust He will be there for us when we live our lives and encounter hardship or sickness or calamity. Instead of making demands on God, we are better off to believe He is with us every moment of our lives.
Testing God is Not Trusting God
