23/04/2020 - LET US NOT TEMPT CHRIST

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nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 1 Corinthians 10:9

Prior to His birth in Bethlehem of Judah, Jesus was already at work in many biblical events. Christ is the Word about whom John wrote in his gospel; He said to Gideon, Go in your strength, and you shall deliver Israel out of the hand of the Midianites (Judges 6:14). It was also the man who fought with Jacob, and at the end said, “Your name will not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel, because as a prince you fought with God and with men and prevailed” (Gen. 32:28). Countless events lead us to believe this.

Is not He the Lord whom Isaiah saw sitting upon a high and lofty throne whose entourage filled the temple? (Is 6.1). Now the Father was never seen by anyone, but Isaiah declared that He saw Him. Surely it was the Only Begotten Son of God, the Beloved in His eternal form. Jesus commanded most of the events that preceded His coming, choosing people to perform important tasks. By the way, He was tempted by the Israelites in the wilderness when the serpents arose.

Often when referring to the Savior, the Bible treats Him as the Angel of the Lord, not an angel. Because they tried, many were killed by the poisonous snakes. This plague did not just hit everyone, because when they saw the slaughter they fell into themselves and asked Moses to intercede. So, following the divine direction, he raised the rod whose tip was a metal snake, and people could look at it and get healing. The Lord knew that that serpent symbolized Him.

Today we know the account of His first coming into the world when He was born as a baby in Bethlehem and grew up like any boy, but never sinned. Christ was the Father’s promise to accomplish our redemption, and this He did very well. By paying such a high price, we were delivered from the kingdom of darkness and transported to the Kingdom of the Son of His love (Col. 1:13). When they rejected Him, the Jews had no idea they were despising God Himself.

Prior to His incarnation, Jesus was already the person of God who made the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Unfortunately, the greatest tragedy of the Hebrew nation was not receiving Him, even though He came into the world personally. Christ wept over Jerusalem, saying that His house would be deserted until its inhabitants recognized that blessed was He who came in the Name of the Lord. Now He can and wants to dwell in the heart of anyone who accepts Him as Savior. Hallelujah!

When the Israelites complained about manna, God could have destroyed them. However, that was not His plan. Then only a few perished after the serpents bit them. Many Christians have been genuinely saved, but for lack of wisdom they also do not accept the ministry Christ began to develop personally and then through the disciples. Whoever resists God will be held responsible for the scandals they caused.

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do. It is good not to give in to the temptation to despise the Savior, who tenderly calls him to continue his ministry. Do not make Christ’s message a trade. This will sadden Him and cause harm to the lost. If the message is false, many will be lost forever.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares