YEHOVAH PROVIDES A WAY OF ESCAPE FROM TEMPTATION

The Spirit of Yehovah indwells those that are His, and the power of Yehovah works on their behalf even when they are tempted. We know this because Paul clearly states in his letter to the Corinthian congregation, “No temptation has come your way that is too hard for flesh and blood to bear. For God can be trusted not to allow you to suffer any temptation beyond your powers of endurance. He will see to it that every temptation has a way out so that it will never be impossible for you to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, Phillips).

We live in a culture today that doesn’t comprehend that the Messiah Jesus offers a way to overcome temptation. They don't understand that the lord Jesus was crucified to become a sin-offering sacrifice in order that they could be reconciled to his God and his Father Yehovah by that sacrifice!

This world offers many ways that one can escape fleshly temptations, but only Jesus acting as the agent commissioned by Yehovah can provide the way to resist temptations. The Messiah Jesus clearly states, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

Just as an aside: We are to follow Jesus' example and show people the way to obtain salvation - deliverance, bring them to understand the truth of God's plan that leads to age upon age lasting life in the ages to come!

Yehovah says that He will provide, as His shows in the life of Abraham His called-out servant. Let's read through Genesis 22:1-14:

Yehovah tested Abraham and called to him, “Abraham!”“Yes, here I am!” he answered. Yehovah said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will show you.”

Note: Is Isaac a type of the lord Jesus the Messiah who became a sin-offering sacrifice, a burnt offering sacrifice for us.

Early the next morning Abraham saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut the wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place that Yehovah had told him about. Two days later Abraham saw the place in the distance.

Then Abraham said to his servants, “You stay here with the donkey while the boy and I go over there. We’ll worship. After that, we will come back to you.”

Notice this example of a faith believing in deliverance from a trial:

Yehovah commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac on the mountain He would show him, yet he says to his servants that after he goes up to that mountain, he and his son will come back!

Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and gave it to his son Isaac. Abraham carried the burning coals and the knife. The two of them went on together.

Notice: Abraham takes burning coals with him in order to be able to sacrifice his son on an altar as a burnt offering. Can you imagine taking your son up on a mountain in order to tie him up on a pile of wood in order to burn him up, cremate him? Yet Abraham doesn't hesitate for one second. He was totally committed to faithfully obeying his God Yehovah, believing Yehovah would provide a way for him and his son to go back down the mountain. Did Abraham believe that if he killed his son that Yehovah would bring him back to life, resurrect him? I think he did.

Isaac spoke up and said, “Father?” Yes, Son?” Abraham answered. Isaac asked, “We have the burning coals and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God will provide a lamb for the burnt offering, Son.”

Notice: Is this statement a reference to a type of Jesus the Lamb of God?

The two of them went on together. When they came to the place that Yehovah had told him about, Abraham built the altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied up his son Isaac [who submitted to him doing so, even as Jesus submitted to the will of his Father to become a sin-offering sacrifice] and laid him on top of the wood on the altar.

Next, Abraham picked up the knife and took it in his hand to sacrifice his son. But the Angel of Yehovah called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham! Abraham!”  “Yes?” he answered. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear Yehovah, 

because you did not refuse to give me your son, your only son.”

When Abraham looked around, he saw a ram behind him caught by its horns in a bush. So Abraham took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son [even as Jesus, as the lamb of God, became a sin offering sacrifice, a burnt offering for us, in place of us].

Abraham named that place Yehovah Will Provide. It is still said today, “On the mountain of Yehovah it will be provided.”

This was the same place where Solomon would build the temple of Yehovah, where God provided a place for his people to meet with him.

When we finally admit, “My way of doing things doesn't work. My way is not the right one,” and in faith obedience totally commit to following Yehovah’s way, we will have His powerful provision working in us to be able to overcome any temptation/test/trial.

Yehovah provides the indwelling life-enabling power we need as His servants/slaves to live according to His love and righteousness in all we say and do. When we do so in faith obedience we will be enabled by His indwelling presence to overcome every temptation, test, or trial that comes our way. Then we can pray that the mountain - temptation, trial, will be cast into the sea and it will be gone. (Matthew 21:21)