Sivan 8
Trials
“And do not lead us into trial …” (Mat 6:13 ISR)
I have seen this
portion of the verse translated as “let
us not sin when we are in trials”, which follows perfectly with the purpose
behind trials and tests in our lives.
Deu 8:2 tells us that one of the reasons behind the forty years of
wandering was to test and prove the Hebrew nation, as to whether or not they
would keep the commandments of Elohim.
If our Elohim felt the need to test Abraham (see Gen 22:1), the one who
is called the father of our faith, why should we think it would be any
different for us?
Trials are for our
benefit, to reveal to us exactly where our weaknesses lie. Much like a pop quiz for school age children,
the trials we face in our walk with Elohim are designed to show us the areas
where we need improvement. And as James,
the brother of our Messiah instructed us, we are to “count it all joy when we fall into various trials”, diligently
seeking the lesson to be learned from the trial that we are in.
Does Elohim actually
“lead” us into these types of situations?
I don’t know that He actually grabs us by the hand, dragging and
screaming, telling us that “here, this is the next test for you”. Truthfully, I believe that much of what we
walk through is the result of the brilliant choices that we have made along the
way. I also believe that Yah allows
these “seasons” of testing to happen in our lives, to “prove” us, just as He
did with the children of Yisra’el (Deu 8:2).
And the one thing that I am certain of, no matter how dark the valley of
despair that I must walk through, He is with me all the way (Ps 23:4).
It is unfortunate
that so many of us were taught that trials and tests all stem from the
adversary, haSatan, the basis for
this being where Messiah Yeshua was tested by the adversary (see Mat 4:1). That is not to say that some of our trials may have originated
with haSatan, but for the most
part, the battle is with the yetzer hatov
versus the yetzer hara (the good
inclination versus the evil inclination) that resides within each one of
us. It is much easier to stand, yelling
at the enemy, rebuking him until such time as you are red in the face, than to
have to take control over all of the
fleshly desires that seek to have their way in our lives.
What does the Amidah say of trials and tests? There is not any specific mention of trials
in this prayer; however, we find petitions for understanding, and compassion on
those who are “righteous”. The following
is part of the section pertaining to the righteous:
“Grant a good reward
to all who truly trust in Your Name. Set
our lot with them forever so that we may never be put to shame, for we have put
our trust in You.”[1]
Amein!
©2018
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