Part 2: The Divine Character by Randal Matheny

[Note: Here's the link to Part 1: The Divine Perspective.]

As is true of every aspect of Christianity, winning over temptation depends upon the character of God. Paul knows this as he affirms that "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able" (1 Cor. 10:13 NASU).

So overcoming temptation depends not only upon adopting the divine perspective, but relying upon the divine character.

God Points the Way

From the beginning, the Lord has pointed man to the way of righteousness. When Cain showed signs of wandering, the Lord confronted his anger with the need to repent and choose good over evil.

"If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it" (Gen. 4:7).

Never has God led man into sin (Jas. 1:13-15). He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 33:11). He does not wish that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Pet. 3.9).

Isaiah speaks in terms that give a different impression. "Why, O Lord, do You cause us to stray from Your ways and harden our heart from fearing you?" (Is. 63:17). But as the Lord insisted they repent, their sins multiplied and God gave them up to judgment (Rom. 1:22-32). His continued chastisement resulted in their straying further away from him.

So the Lord promises to help man overcome temptation. He has always fulfilled this promise and will continue to do so.

Divine Limits Show Divine Purpose

God does permit that we be tempted. He respects our free will. He encourages us to do right. So that we may be able to choose what is right, he imposes limits and restraints upon what Satan can do, just as he did during Job's trials.

This divine permission and restriction of Satanic effort shows that the Lord is in charge of the whole process. Our verse says, "he will not allow." Thus, God is in the temptation, not to lead us to sin, but to bring us through it strengthened in our resolve to love and serve him.

God Showed Faithfulness in Jesus' Temptation

The Spirit of God led Jesus into the wilderness in order to be tempted (Mat. 4:1-11). On the face of it, God appears to be against his Son, but the leading actually reveals his faithful presence in order that he may win over Satan and fulfill his mission in the world. The confrontation is inevitable, and though we might shrink from it, God's Spirit leads us to meet it head-on.

Many think of angels as protectors from evil, but the angels came to serve Jesus after Satan had already left him (v. 11). Our Lord had One greater than the angels to help him at the critical moment. He counted on the faithfulness of his Father.

Though Satan was slinging him around from one end of the world to the other, the powerful Word of God brought him the unfailing power of the Creator to defeat the tempter.

With this confidence in the faithfulness of the sovereign God, Zacharias praised his salvation,

"To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days." (Luke 1:74-75).

This thought will take us to the next installment: The Divine Escape.