Putting God to the Test

Cross-references Parent Topic a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

God vs. Humans

God has no imperfections; God does not change. There is nothing in God to test for, to see if it exists.

In contrast, humans are imperfect, changeable and fickle. The character qualities of humans need tested - and in most cases, the humans fail the test. But even without sin, humans would need tested; because they are finite, and the testing allows them to learn, grow and mature... depending on the choice they make.

• Adam was tested in the garden, under perfect conditions... and willfully failed the test, choosing to follow his wife, rather than God (Genesis 3:6). (His wife was deceived - tricked - but Adam fully understood what he was doing - 1 Timothy 2:14.)

• Jesus, as a human, was tested many times, in many unpleasant circumstances (including on the cross). As a human, he learned obedience to God through experiencing it in his life (Hebrews 5:8-9). (As deity, these verses do not apply.)

Genesis 3:6 and 1 Timothy 2:14 (Adam), compared to Hebrews 5:8-9 (Jesus) Genesis 3:6 - When the woman ... gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. 1 Timothy 2:14 - Adam wasn't deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has fallen into disobedience... Hebrews 5:8-9 - ... though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered. Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation, ...

The Issue of "Testing God"

God needs trusted, not tested. Yet the tendency of people is to get these two backwards!

The nation of Israel constantly did this, as they traveled through the wilderness - in spite of all the good things God did. Even though they had been told that they would be tested, in order to learn obedience (Exodus 15:25b-26), and God did just that (Exodus 16:4), it seems that they preferred to learn disobedience. They almost immediately turned around and questioned God's ability to provide food and water (Exodus 17:2, 7 and Psalm 78:18). This quickly became a way of life, to the point that they forgot ALL the wonders God had done in their midst, and turned to false "gods" (the invention of humans), who they thought would do better (Psalm 78:41-58)!

What did Israel think they would accomplish by doing this? Sin is irrational! God had already warned them what the outcome would be - and he cannot change. God is holy and righteous, and those who choose to remain wicked must be judged. So even though God sometimes gave them what they wanted, he also gave them a judgment they didn't want (Psalm 78:29-31, 59-64; 106:13-15).

All this is a warning to us, lest we do the same (1 Corinthians 10:11). We need to take heed, lest we end up deserving the same outcome.

Exodus 15:25b-26; 16:4 / Exodus 17:2, 7 and Psalm 78:18, 41-43, 56-58 / Psalm 78:29-31, 59-64 and Psalm 106:13-15 / 1 Corinthians 10:11 God would test them Exodus 15:25b-26 - ...he tested them; and he said, "If you will diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, and will do that which is right in his eyes, and will pay attention to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you, which I have put on the Egyptians; for I am Yahweh who heals you." Exodus 16:4 - Then said Yahweh to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from the sky for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law, or not. They chose to test God Exodus 17:2, 7 - Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?" ... He [Moses] called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, "Is Yahweh among us, or not?" Psalm 78:18 - They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire. Psalm 78:41-43, 56-58 - They turned again and tempted God, and provoked the Holy One of Israel. They didn't remember his hand, nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary; how he set his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the field of Zoan, ... [God's powerful works in Egypt and the deliverance of his people, described here.] ... Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, and didn't keep his testimonies; but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were turned aside like a deceitful bow. For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their engraved images. They reaped the consequences of their actions Psalm 78:29-31 - So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire. They didn't turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths, when the anger of God went up against them, killed some of the fattest of them, and struck down the young men of Israel. Psalm 78:59-64 - When God heard this [their turning to idols], he was angry, and greatly abhorred Israel; So that he forsook the tent of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; and delivered his strength into captivity, his glory into the adversary's hand. He also gave his people over to the sword, and was angry with his inheritance. Fire devoured their young men. Their virgins had no wedding song. Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows couldn't weep. Psalm 106:13-15 - They soon forgot his works. They didn't wait for his counsel, but gave in to craving in the desert, and tested God in the wasteland. He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul [disease and death]. This is a warning to us, lest we do as they did 1 Corinthians 10:11 - Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

How Should We Respond?

Jesus was often tested by the Devil. In one case, the Devil quoted (or mis-quoted) Scripture and suggested that Jesus should "prove" that God would do what he said he'd do. To paraphrase the Devil's words, after taking Jesus to the highest point on the temple: "Doesn't Scripture claim that God will send angels to protect you if you fall? (Psalm 91:11-12) There's only one way to find out... Jump!" Jesus' response? "Do not test God!" (Matthew 4:5-7 and Luke 4:9-12) Jesus also quoted Scripture (Deuteronomy 6:16), and referred back to the very first recorded instance of the Israelites committing this sin.

We should respond the same way Jesus did, when we are tempted to test God!

Psalm 91:11-12; Matthew 4:5-7 and Luke 4:9-12; Deuteronomy 6:16 Psalm 91:11-12 - For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won't dash your foot against a stone. Matthew 4:5-7 - Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will put his angels in charge of you.' and, 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don't dash your foot against a stone.' " Jesus said to him, "Again, it is written, 'You shall not test the Lord, your God.' " Luke 4:9-12 - He led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;' and, 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.' " Jesus answering, said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' " Deuteronomy 6:16 - You shall not tempt Yahweh your God, as you tempted him in Massah.

Other Scripture Passages that Focus on This Issue

• More verses about Meribah (also called Massah): We are told not to do as they did at Meribah (Psalm 95:8-11 and Hebrews 3:7-13). This event (also described above) occurred near the beginning of Israel's journey through the wilderness. The command to not do as they did is as relevant today as it was back when the psalmist gave the warning. The sin is just as serious (with the potential of eternal consequences) - and that is why the book of Hebrews quotes the passage from the Psalms.

Psalm 95:8-11 and Hebrews 3:7-13 Psalm 95:8-11 - Don't harden your heart, as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted me, tested me, and saw my work. Forty long years I was grieved with that generation, and said, "It is a people that errs in their heart. They have not known my ways." Therefore I swore in my wrath, "They won't enter into my rest." Hebrews 3:7-13 - Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you will hear his voice, don't harden your hearts, as in the provocation, like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested me by proving me, and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, 'They always err in their heart, but they didn't know my ways;' as I swore in my wrath, 'They will not enter into my rest.' " Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God; but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called "today;" lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

• Learning from people of the past: We should learn from what Israel did, rather than practicing it (1 Corinthians 10:6-10). The verses surrounding this passage go into more detail... even including a reminder that we don't have to give-in to the temptation to sin (1 Corinthians 10:13).

1 Corinthians 10:6-10, 13 1 Corinthians 10:6-10 - Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play [idolatrous revelry]." Neither let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. Neither let us test the Lord, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents. Neither grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. 1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

• Verses about another "Meribah," located near Kadesh: Unfortunately, Israel didn't learn, and had to spend 40 years wandering across the wilderness. At the end of their journey, a second "Meribah incident" took place (at a different location). Here, Moses and Aaron sinned, by responding to the people in anger and impatience. (He acted like the people.) Because of this, Moses (and Aaron) would die and not enter the promised land (Numbers 20:10-13, 24; 27:12-14; Deuteronomy 32:48-52; Psalm 106:32-33). These passages show us that sin has consequences even for godly people who commit them.

Numbers 20:10-13, 24; 27:12-14; Deuteronomy 32:48-52; Psalm 106:32-33 Numbers 20:10-13 - Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring you water out of this rock for you? Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, Because you didn't believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them. These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Yahweh, and he was sanctified in them. Numbers 20:24 - Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah. Numbers 27:12-14 - Yahweh said to Moses, Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel. When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered; because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes. (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) Deuteronomy 32:48-52 - Yahweh spoke to Moses that same day, saying, Go up into this mountain of Abarim, to Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and see the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel for a possession; and die on the mountain where you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor, and was gathered to his people: because you trespassed against me in the midst of the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you didn't sanctify me in the midst of the children of Israel. For you shall see the land before you; but you shall not go there into the land which I give the children of Israel. Psalm 106:32-33 - They [Israel] angered him [God] also at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled for their sakes; because they were rebellious against his spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips.

• A "Meribah" verse that focuses on God's goodness: This verse seems to combine the two Meribah incidents, and it says that God tested them (Psalm 81:7). (The Scripture passages mentioned above show us that they failed the test, because they decided to test God.)

Psalm 81:7 Psalm 81:7 - You called in trouble, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at the waters of Meribah." Selah.

• An example of "religious hypocrisy" that we should avoid: There is one Old Testament instance in which not testing God was a pretentious expression of godliness, by an idolatrous king. God had told him to ask for a sign, and the king refused, pretentiously claiming that doing so would violate Scripture! God used this opportunity to himself provide a sign - one that would point directly to Jesus, and would be fulfilled centuries later. (Isaiah 7:10-14, compared with Matthew 1:23) This Jesus is the one who, by his own example, would show us that we should never test the Lord our God!

Isaiah 7:10-14; Matthew 1:23 Isaiah 7:10-14 - Yahweh spoke again to Ahaz, saying, "Ask a sign of Yahweh your God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, neither will I tempt Yahweh." He said, "Listen now, house of David: Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. ... Matthew 1:23 - "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;" which is, being interpreted, "God with us."

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Scripture Pages that Link to Here

Exodus 15:22-27

At Marah: there he tested them; ...

Exodus 17:1-7

The people complain; their complaining has degenerated into questioning God.

Deuteronomy 6:1-25

Deu 6:16 You shall not tempt [test] Yahweh your God, as you tempted him in Massah.

Psalm 78:1-72

In spite of all the wonders they had witnessed, Israel (Ephraim) refused to trust God! Instead they rebelled and questioned God's ability to provide for them! In Exodus, this was described as "putting God to the test."

Psalm 95:1-11

Don't do as Israel did in the wilderness! "Hear" (pay attention to) God, instead.

1 Samuel 14:1-23

When Jonathan and his armor-bearer decided to approach the Philistine garrison by themselves, it was not an instance of “putting God to the test.” They were trusting God based on what God had already promised and done in the past. The only issue at hand was to find out what God was going to do and how he would do it.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.