James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one.
Genesis 22:1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’
God tested Abraham, yet He does not tempt anyone? How is that?
THE MEANING:
Test: נסה
nâsâh
to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or
to attempt, assay.
Tempt: πειράζω
peirazō
to try whether a thing can be done, to attempt, endeavour
to try, entice, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quantity, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself
in a good sense
in a bad sense, to test one maliciously, craftily to put to the proof his feelings or judgments
to try or test one’s faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin
to solicit to sin.
Men are said to tempt God by exhibitions of distrust, as though they wished to try whether he is not justly distrusted
by impious or wicked conduct to test God’s justice and patience, and to challenge him, as it were to give proof of his perfections.
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TESTING
To test and to tempt are not the same thing. Think of a test as an exam—something necessary to move us to the next level. When God tests us, He places us in situations to reveal the state of our hearts and to give us an opportunity to choose obedience over disobedience. The purpose of a test is to strengthen our faith and help us grow in character, righteousness and responsibility through obedience.
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. (Romans 5:3-4, James 1:2-3, 1 Peter 1:6-7).
For example, in the case of Abraham, God tested him by asking him to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1-2). This was not to harm Abraham or entice him to sin, but rather to reveal Abraham’s trust and obedience. Abraham’s faith was proven, and he was able to move to a new level of relationship and covenant with God.
Similarly, Job went through severe trials as a test of his faithfulness. Though Satan was the one bringing the calamities upon Job, God allowed it to test Job’s integrity and devotion. The test proved that Job was righteous and would not curse God despite his suffering (Job 1:8-12).
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TEMPTATION
Temptation, on the other hand, has a different origin and purpose. James 1:14-15 explains, “But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Temptation arises from our fleshly desires, and it is powered by Satan’s efforts to entice us into sin. The goal of temptation is to lead us away from God, to cause us to disobey His commands and give in to sinful desires.
We see this clearly in the temptation of Jesus. In Matthew 4:1-11, Satan tries to lure Jesus into sin by appealing to His physical needs, pride, and the desire for power. But Jesus overcame these temptations by standing firm on God’s Word.
Temptation, therefore, is an attempt by the enemy to make us deny God and fall into sin. It is not orchestrated by God but by Satan, who knows our weaknesses and seeks to exploit them. While God does not tempt us to sin, He does allow us to be tested, and sometimes that includes allowing the enemy to bring temptations our way. God’s purpose in testing is always to build us up, while Satan’s goal in temptation is to tear us down.
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Direct Biblical Sample
For instance, in Luke 22:31-32, Jesus told Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.” Here, Satan’s goal was to tempt Peter into denying Christ, but Jesus allowed the test to reveal Peter’s need for humility and deeper dependence on God. Though Peter failed by denying Christ, he ultimately repented and was restored, becoming a stronger leader for the early Church.
Both tests and temptations can be overcome through reliance on God. 1 Corinthians 10:13 assures us that, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Whether it’s a test orchestrated by God or a temptation from the enemy, God’s grace is sufficient to help us endure and emerge victorious. Tests strengthen our faith, while temptations—when resisted—encourage and strengthen our resolve to walk in purity and righteousness.
To run, to stay, to pray, to fight, which one will it be? Get directions in this episode?