Wasteland Temptations
Christopher B. Harbin
Matthew 4:1-11
Where do we encounter God? Where would we seek God out? Though our first answer might be in a sanctuary or in a worship service, there is another answer to that question that may be a little more on point. Perhaps we should be looking for God where only God could be our help, where it is only on God that we might rely. For the Ancient Hebrews, the wilderness or wastelands east of the Jordan had a special significance along these lines. When seeking God, do we wait patiently until God answers?
The wastelands east of the Jordan were a constant reminder of that period of wandering before the Hebrew people came up to cross the Jordan. It was there Moses had his only glimpse of the Promised Land. There he was last seen by the people who would follow Joshua's leadership going forward. It was where Elijah had fled from Jezebel's threat of death. It was where Elijah had crossed over the Jordan to be taken up in a whirlwind as Elisha saw the chariots of fire. This was a land associated with the need to depend directly upon Yahweh's provision.
It was an uncultivated land. It was not civilized or tamed. It was where God's untamed power was expected to be more visible and active in their midst. Here they had depended on the manna Yahweh provided. Here Yahweh had made streams flow in a dry land. Here that ragged band of former slaves had first witnessed Yahweh grant them victory over enemy peoples arrayed against them, both in hills and valleys. Here Elijah was faced with understanding Yahweh's presence in a still, small voice, rather than in wind, earthquake, and fire. Here Elijah had been redirected to God's continued call on his life, despite his doubts, depression, and the darkness that kept him from seeing a way forward.
Matthew presents this as where Jesus was proven, shown to be faithful, revealed to be true to the ways of Yahweh. Before being ...
Christopher B. Harbin
Matthew 4:1-11
Where do we encounter God? Where would we seek God out? Though our first answer might be in a sanctuary or in a worship service, there is another answer to that question that may be a little more on point. Perhaps we should be looking for God where only God could be our help, where it is only on God that we might rely. For the Ancient Hebrews, the wilderness or wastelands east of the Jordan had a special significance along these lines. When seeking God, do we wait patiently until God answers?
The wastelands east of the Jordan were a constant reminder of that period of wandering before the Hebrew people came up to cross the Jordan. It was there Moses had his only glimpse of the Promised Land. There he was last seen by the people who would follow Joshua's leadership going forward. It was where Elijah had fled from Jezebel's threat of death. It was where Elijah had crossed over the Jordan to be taken up in a whirlwind as Elisha saw the chariots of fire. This was a land associated with the need to depend directly upon Yahweh's provision.
It was an uncultivated land. It was not civilized or tamed. It was where God's untamed power was expected to be more visible and active in their midst. Here they had depended on the manna Yahweh provided. Here Yahweh had made streams flow in a dry land. Here that ragged band of former slaves had first witnessed Yahweh grant them victory over enemy peoples arrayed against them, both in hills and valleys. Here Elijah was faced with understanding Yahweh's presence in a still, small voice, rather than in wind, earthquake, and fire. Here Elijah had been redirected to God's continued call on his life, despite his doubts, depression, and the darkness that kept him from seeing a way forward.
Matthew presents this as where Jesus was proven, shown to be faithful, revealed to be true to the ways of Yahweh. Before being ...
There are 8995 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
