Remember and Do Not Forget
«And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.»
«And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.»
Let these verses remind you to take your own Bible in your hands, read them there again and, if you wish, continue a little further. Holding God's Word in your hands also gives you a precious moment away from the digital world.
Do not read the Bible in one long run, but passage by passage: one text, unhurried, asking the Holy Spirit for understanding. Whoever tries to swallow everything at once loses the overview. Whoever takes one passage each day will see the whole picture over time.
The connection
Israel was tested in the wilderness and often failed, relying on bread rather than God's word. Christ, however, led into the wilderness after His baptism, resists the temptation to provide for Himself. He quotes the very same scripture, demonstrating that true life lies not in material satisfaction, but in obedience to the Father.
Reflection
Yesterday, we saw how the true light of the world came in Jesus Christ to illuminate our path. Today, we begin a new week, looking at how Jesus starts His journey in this world: through baptism and the subsequent testing in the wilderness. It echoes Israel's journey, yet with a crucial difference.
You might recognise this: situations where you feel challenged, where your deepest needs are put to the test. Like Israel in the wilderness, hungry and longing for what they knew, we often face a choice: Do we trust in our own means, in what is tangible, or in God's promise?
Jesus shows us in the wilderness how to confront this temptation. He reminds us that our life depends not only on what we eat or possess, but on every word that comes from God's mouth. It is an invitation, even today in your challenges, not just to look at the visible, but to trust in the invisible, sustaining power of His Word.
Prayer
Lord, my God, I thank You for accompanying me on my journey. Sometimes I feel as if I am in a wilderness, hungry for answers and security. Forgive me when I then try to satisfy my needs by my own strength, instead of trusting in Your Word. Teach me anew today that my life depends on You, on Your wisdom and Your guidance. Strengthen my faith, that I may resist temptations and find my true nourishment in You. Amen.
The thread
Last week we celebrated the coming of the light. This week we see how Jesus begins His journey by going through baptism and the wilderness, where He withstands temptations where Israel fell. Tomorrow, we will continue to see how He overcomes the wilderness.
Today, trust not only in bread, but in every word that comes from God's mouth.
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