Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. – Deuteronomy 8:3
Christ’s reply to the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4:3, 4) with the words taken from the Old Testament identifies the need for His followers to understand that, while the body needs to be sustained, the spirit should have greater sway in what you say, what you desire, and the path you take.
It was not without purpose that the Israelites were in the wilderness for forty years. They had been saved from slavery and were now being trained… trained to be humble, accepting that only God could give them life; trained to understand the state of their hearts and what they needed to know and do so their affections focused solely on the Lord; trained to rely totally on God, dependent on Him for all help, sustenance, and guidance.
Each one learned in a different way. Some learned through affliction; some learned when the commands were difficult to obey. Some took the entire forty years to learn while others learned very quickly. Some learned when they saw the miracle of the manna settled on the ground the first morning. They knew that it was God’s word that sent it; He cared, and they would obey.
It is the same for you. God teaches each believer, His adopted child, in different ways… sometimes through adversity and sometimes through blessings. Each situation teaches the specific purpose God has for you. The writer C. Clemance stated, “Ever let us keep the end of life in view. For eternity we are meant, and for eternity we should live.”
Pray now that you might learn your lessons well and be a guide to others who have lost their way. Ask the Lord to bring someone alongside members of the government who do not know Him, so that training in repentance and belief might follow.
Today’s Verse: Deuteronomy 8:3
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Matthew 4:1-11
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 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.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
