During the first temptation, the tempter says something like, "Hey, you've been fasting forty days and you're hungry. So, you're the Son of God, make some bread!" Was it a sin to turn stone into bread? Clearly creating bread could be good since later on Jesus feeds the five and the four thousand. So what else is happening?
Did Jesus look down at the stones to which the tempter was pointing? Considering the desert is covered in stones (I'll post pictures once my server is back up), he must have seen stones all over the ground. Stones covering the ground. Covering the ground. "When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor." Manna came from heaven because the Israelites grumbled and did not trust God to provide. They tested Him and asked to be fed immediately. Did Jesus picture the stones as manna on the desert floor?
Jesus' response in Matthew is, "Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." The beginning of the verse that Jesus is quoting reads, "He humbled you, causing you to hunger, and then feeding you with manna." Did the stones all over the desert floor remind Jesus of manna? Did he picture it? Did he then remember this verse about manna and living on every word from God? Surely his stomach was grumbling, just like the Israelites. But he didn't voice his complaint. He didn't grumble. He was being led by the Spirit and he trusted. Jesus tamed his tongue, and he did not speak to turn these stones to bread. We found this train of thought so encouraging because it shows us how we can resist and the temptation will flee.
Lily's awake. More to follow.
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