Overcoming Tailormade Temptations. Part [13] 12/24/2023 Evening thought)

1st Samuel 14:31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint. 32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.

Fierce pangs of hunger, to the point of fainting could drive a person to eat things that are forbidden, and extreme thirst could do the same, if we don’t follow Christ’s example. The urge to merge is what drove David over the edge, and in our day, it is still driving men and women to do things that are not right.

Balaam’s plot to overthrow Israel was centered on the urge to merge, because if the leaders of Israel cannot control their feelings, but could be led to let their feelings control them, then the battle for their minds would have been won, for wheresoever the mind goes, the body always follows. [P&P page 451] Balaam knew that the prosperity of Israel depended upon their obedience to God, and that there was no way to cause their overthrow but by seducing them into sin.

[S.G bk 4 pp 48] He counseled Balak to proclaim an idolatrous feast in honor of their idol gods, and he would persuade the Israelites to attend, that they might be delighted with the music. And then, the most beautiful Midianitish women should entice the Israelites to transgress the law of God, and corrupt themselves, and also influence them to offer sacrifice to idols. This Satanic counsel succeeded too well.

Numbers 25:And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

Overcoming Tailormade Temptations. Part [12] 12/23/2023 Morning thought)

1st Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Thus, the devil waits for the opportune moment to carry out his tailormade plan against Christ. He must time this temptation precisely, at a point when Jesus would be at His weakest physically, with no friends to offer any help, and where the only choice Jesus would have is to work a miracle to save Himself, or to obey God and die, if it came to that.

[The Desire of Ages pp 118] For forty days He fasted and prayed. Weak and emaciated from hunger, worn and haggard with mental agony, “His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.” Isaiah 52:14. Now was Satan's opportunity. Now he supposed that he could overcome Christ.

Tailormade temptations are made to fit the person who is being targeted, and therefore there would be nuances that become necessary as the situation is scheduled to unfold. As Christians, we will discover that we do have strong urges, which strive to make us say and do things that are not in accordance with God’s will.

Romans 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. “God bless!