God will Test!

(Deuteronomy 13:3) “...For the LORD your God is testing you...”

What I find rather intriguing is how surprised I felt when I considered this portion of scripture; But why should this surprises us, did the Lord Jesus not have to endure tremendous temptation and much pain, He did you know, more than any other! Did God test these once enslaved Israelites, He sure did! I think it would be good for us to soberly consider what they went through and why; we know that their journey was for our admonition. How so? - “For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?” (Hebrews 3:16)

They were not only being tested for themselves and how they responded to the Word of God, but for future generations, for us to understand the consequences to our disobedience. “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:12-13)

The writer of this book concludes the chapter like this; “So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:19) 

That is a very interesting word (unbelief) he concludes with; it is not as if they did not believe something. They just didn’t believe the Word of God. Let us look at the context to our text as they put something above the Word of God, do you know what that was? "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)

Be on the lookout for many even now raise their heads and lure many from the truth of God’s Word. But do not be fooled, it is God who has allowed it to happen testing His people; “For the LORD your God is testing you!” We must see this as a positive influence to our lives, if our hearts are troubled then we have an anchor that is steadfast and sure, let us run to Him and not another. Be aware of His test, it is for our admonition; if we need to repent then He beckons us to come, but only on His terms and never our own.

Let us now unpack this warning a little deeper so that we may learn from it...

“Here is, I. A very strange supposition, Deu_13:1, Deu_13:2. 1. It is strange that there should arise any among themselves, especially any pretending to vision and prophecy, who should instigate them to go and serve other gods. Was it possible that any who had so much knowledge of the methods of divine revelation as to be able to personate a prophet should yet have so little knowledge of the divine nature and will as to go himself and entice his neighbours after other gods? Could an Israelite ever be guilty of such impiety? Could a man of sense ever be guilty of such absurdity? We see it in our own day, and therefore may think it the less strange; multitudes that profess both learning and religion yet exciting both themselves and others, not only to worship God by images, but to give divine honour to saints and angels, which is no better than going after other gods to serve them; such is the power of strong delusions. 2. It is yet more strange that the sign or wonder given for the confirmation of this false doctrine should come to pass. Can it be thought that God himself should give any countenance to such a vile proceeding? Did ever a false prophet work a true miracle? It is only supposed here for two reasons: - (1.) To strengthen the caution here given against hearkening to such a one. “Though it were possible that he should work a true miracle, yet you must not believe him if he tell you that you must serve other gods, for the divine law against that is certainly perpetual and unalterable.” The supposition is like that in Gal_1:8, If we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you - which does not prove it possible that an angel should preach another gospel, but strongly expresses the certainty and perpetuity of that which we have received. So here, (2.) It is to fortify them against the danger of impostures and lying wonders (2Th_2:9): “Suppose the credentials he produces be so artfully counterfeited that you cannot discern the cheat, nor disprove them, yet, if they are intended to draw you to the service of other gods, that alone is sufficient to disprove them; no evidence can be admitted against so clear a truth as that of the unity of the Godhead, and so plain a law as that of worshipping the one only living and true God.” We cannot suppose that the God of truth should set his seal of miracles to a lie, to so gross a lie as is supposed in that temptation, Let us go after other gods. But if it be asked, Why is this false prophet permitted to counterfeit this broad seal? It is answered here (Deu_13:3): “The Lord you God proveth you. He suffers you to be set upon by such a temptation to try your constancy, that both those that are perfect and those that are false and corrupt may be made manifest. It is to prove you; therefore see that you acquit yourselves well in the trial, and stand your ground.”

II. Here is a very necessary charge given in this case,

1.      Not to yield to the temptation: “Thou shalt not hearken to the worlds of that prophet, Deu_13:3. Not only thou shalt not do the thing he tempts thee to, but thou shalt not so much as patiently hear the temptation, but reject it with the utmost disdain and detestation. Such a suggestion as this is not to be so much as parleyed with, but the ear must be stopped against it. Get thee behind me, Satan.” Some temptations are so grossly vile that they will not bear a debate, nor may we so much as give them the hearing. What follows (Deu_13:4), You shall walk after the Lord, may be looked upon, (1.) As prescribing a preservative from the temptation: “Keep close to your duty, and you keep out of harm's way. God never leaves us till we leave him.” Or, (2.) As furnishing us with an answer to the temptation; say, “It is written, Thou shalt walk after the Lord, and cleave unto him; and therefore what have I to do with idols?” 2. Not to spare the tempter, Deu_13:5. That prophet shall be put to death, both to punish him for the attempt he has made (the seducer must die, though none were seduced by him - a design upon the crown is treason) and to prevent his doing further mischief. This is called putting away the evil. There is no way of removing the guilt but by removing the guilty; if such a criminal be not punished, those that should punish him make themselves responsible. And thus the mischief must be put away; the infection must be kept from spreading by cutting off the gangrened limb, and putting away the mischief-makers. Such dangerous diseases as these must be taken in time.” (Matthew Henry)

These are words of a man who live in the 17^th Century and the warning was as relevant to him and those who lived back then as it is to us who live now. In fact they are probably more relevant as we are warned that in the last days many will come in the name of the Lord and deceive many and it is now some four hundred years later.

Let us therefore sit up and take note. Testing is good for the one who is being tested; it helps us see our own hearts in the matter. If there be anything we need to repent of, may God who is rich in mercy be merciful and lead us in repentance so that we may abide in Him and He in us. To God is the glory both now and forever more, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone