Intro.
1. Job 7:17-20: Explore Job’s question to understand God’s and man’s relationship to “testing” (trials).
2. Does God test man in any way? If so, how? Does man test God?
I. GOD DOES NOT TEST (TEMPT) MAN TO SIN – Jas. 1:13.
A. The Devil is the Tempter of Men – Matt. 4:1, 3.
B. His Temptations Can Be Resisted – Jas. 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:8-9.
II. THERE IS A SENSE IN WHICH GOD TESTS MAN – 1 Chrn. 29:17.
A. God Tests the Heart (examine, scrutinize, try, prove) – Psa. 17:3.
1. Not because He does not already know what is in man’s heart, because He does – 1 Chrn. 28:9; Jno. 2:24-25.
2. Expression of His knowledge & ultimate judgment – Jer. 17:10 (Psa. 11:4-5).
3. Through His word & His providence God allows opportunities for our faith to be tested (examined, proved, tried).
4. These are occasions for the heart to reveal itself in faithful obedience & trustful dependence upon God.
B. Why Does God Test Man?
1. To refine man’s faith – Psa. 66:8-12; Job 23:10.
2. To purify man’s love for God & His word – Deut. 13:1-4.
3. To instill in man a fear of God to prevent sin – Exo. 20:20.
4. To solidify man’s obedience to God – Exo. 16:4.
C. How Does God Test Us?
1. Trials & challenges of faith – Gen. 22:1.
a. To reveal what is in the heart – 22:12; Deut. 8:2.
b. To occasion endurance - Job: Jas. 5:11; Job 1:8-12; Jas. 5:8.
2. During times of blessings – Deut. 8:11-17 (16).
D. Bible Examples of God Testing Man:
1. Abraham – Gen. 22:1. (cf. Psa. 66:10-12)
-Abraham’s depth of faith was tested in the commandment of God, & shown to be complete (Jas. 2:21-23).
2. Israel in wilderness – Exo. 15:25-26; Deut. 8:2, 16.
3. Israel during judges – Judg. 2:19-3:1, 4.
4. Hezekiah – 2 Chrn. 32:27-31 (exposed materialism, 2 Kgs. 20:12-19).
E. Accept The Trials of Life With Patient Faith, Enduring Obedience and Constant Love for God – Jas. 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 1:6-9.
III. MAN CAN TEST (MAKE TRIAL OF) GOD – Matt. 4:7 (Deut. 6:16).
A. By Rebellious Faithlessness in the Presence, Provisions, Power & Purposes of God – Num. 14:19-22.
-In spite of overwhelming evidence of God among them, they rebelled!
-These were not like Gideon, who sought assurance from God – Judg. 6:39-40.
1. Presence – Exo. 17:7.
2. Provisions – Psa. 78:17-20. (Selfish lack of faith.)
3. Power – Psa. 78:40-43, 56. (Not trusting God’s way as right!)
4. Purposes – Psa. 95:8-11 (10); Acts 5:9.
B. By Disobeying the Word of God – Heb. 3:7-11, 18-19.
Conclusion
Heb. 10:36-39 – We must endure with patient faith rather than test God by rebelliously & faithlessly disobeying Him (Heb. 3:7-13).