Page 47 - SABBATH

to be manifested. Satan’s temptation to turn the stones into bread was akin to the sin of the
Israelites. Satan was in effect saying to Yahshua, “You haven’t eaten for forty days. It is not
reasonable that you should be deprived of food. It is a small thing for you to speak to these
stones and turn them into bread. Why don’t you do so?”
Yahshua, however, saw the heart of the matter. To fail to wait on the Father’s
provision was no different than the murmuring and complaining Israelites saying that they
were not cared for by Yahweh. It was an issue of trust as well as an issue of being content
with the will of the Father. If Yahshua had turned the stones to bread He would have
demonstrated that He was not content to await the provision of Yahweh. He would be
declaring that Yahweh’s will for Him in this matter was not acceptable.
Yahshua did not respond as did the Israelites, however. Instead He rebuked Satan
with the words, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that
proceeds out of the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4). Yahshua understood that true life is
found in being in harmony with the will of Yahweh. If it was Yahweh’s will for Yahshua to
wait yet a little longer to be fed, then this was the essence of true life. Life would not be
improved by feeding the desires of the flesh. Life would not be any fuller, richer, or vibrant
by satisfying the longings of the flesh. The only true life is found in being in complete
agreement with the will of God.
When the Israelites came to this same test they failed it. The Father also led them into
the wilderness and He allowed them to become hungry. Would they look at all of the signs
and miracles they had witnessed and proclaim, “I know the Father must have a perfect
provision for us in this matter. He has shown His concern for us over and over. How can we
doubt Him now? We will await His provision with patience and thanksgiving.”
This would have been an appropriate response, and one that would have found favor
with Yahweh. Why did they not respond in this manner? It was because they did not want
to have to suffer any inconvenience to the flesh. They had been taken out of bondage in
Egypt, but they were still in bondage to the fleshpots of Egypt. They still lived to satisfy the
carnal desires of their fleshly nature.
Seeking the will of Yahweh was not their aim and desire; satisfying their flesh was.
Moses revealed to the Israelites that they were led to these tests to expose what was in their
hearts.

Deuteronomy 8:3
"And He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did
not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man
does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the
mouth of Yahweh.”

Moses was declaring that the true essence of life is to know the will of Yahweh (that
which proceeds out of His mouth) and to fulfill His desire and His will. It was this passage
that Yahshua quoted when He was tempted. Yahshua knew the purpose of the wilderness
testing, both for the Israelites and for Himself. Where they failed, He succeeded. He did not
allow Himself to entertain any thoughts of dissatisfaction with Yahweh’s will for His life.
This is the message of the manna. Yahweh has a plan and desires for each one of His
children. Will we be satisfied with His will for us? Will we be content to know His will and
walk in obedience whether our flesh must suffer, or not? Will we resort to murmuring and
complaining as the Israelites did? Will we be tempted to alter Yahweh’s provision and plan