God knows our hearts & minds, so we have nothing to prove to Him (Rom. 4:13)
The test results are to be a lesson to the individual being tested – the individual learns to
recognize his/her inherent strengths and weaknesses.
God tests His own so that they can become stronger, more mature and more
complete, lacking in nothing (Deut. 8:2-3, 15-16; Job 23:10, Isa. 48:10; James 1:2-4, 12;
Heb. 12:5-11; 1 Pe. 5:7; Rom. 5:3-4; 8:35-39)
When we fail tests, and we all will, God extends His grace to help us overcome our
failure.
God will test our faith/trust (Job 13:15; 1 Pe. 1:6-7; Rom 4:16-21)
God will test our loyalty (Daniel 3 :16-18; 2 Sam. 15:21; Ruth 1:16, 17; Joshua 24:15)
Loyalty means nothing unless it has at its heart the absolute principle of
self-sacrifice. – Woodrow Wilson.
God will test our love (for Him and others) (Mark 12:30-31; 1 Cor.13: 4-7 John 21:15;
Matt.4:44-48)
God will test our willingness to obey Him (Gen. 22:1-18; Luke 14:26-33; John 12:24-26)
Our actions demonstrate our faith, or the lack thereof (Titus 1:16)
God will test our willingness to humble ourselves (2 Cor.12:7-10; Phillip.2:5-11)
It is not a sin for us to bring God our problems. He wants us to “cry out”
to Him as Moses did. He invites us to talk things over with Him through
prayer. What is a sin, however, is to have a complaining spirit (1
Cor. 10:10; Rom. 3:12), which is also in essence an ungrateful spirit.
A.L. Todd once said, “We can complain because rosebushes bear
thorns, or we can rejoice because thorn bushes bear roses.”
Time in the “wilderness” = a time of deprivation = a time of testing of one’s faith and
dependence upon God.
Mother Theresa once said ‘you will never know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is
all you have’. Many of us will never make that discovery
The number 40 in the Bible speaks of a generation, but it also symbolizes earthly trials
and tribulations:
God provides what is sufficient for each day, so that we may remain dependent upon His
provision.
In Deuteronomy we’re told, "He did this to humble you…so you would never think that it
was your own strength and energy that made you prosperous" (Deut. 8:17).
God will provide for His own. As David wrote, “I have been young, and [now] am old;
yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Ps. 37:25)
Bread is a symbol for everything necessary for life and well-being-to include food, good
health, shelter, clothing, a means of income, peace, safety, friends and family. The book
of Proverbs gives the right perspective: "Lord, give me neither poverty nor riches; give
me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny You and say, ’Who is
the Lord?’ And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy Name." (Prov.
30:8-9)
Paul tells Timothy, "If we have food and clothing, let us be content with that" (1 Tim.
6:8).
When we thank God before a meal we’re acknowledging that He has provided for
our needs. We’re not indifferent. Scripture says that our food is "sanctified", set apart
when it is received with thanksgiving (I Tim 4:4-5).