Scott Mitchell

August 3, 2008

“Yokes” Part 5

“We are call to Trust Him, notTest Him” – Matthew 12:38-42

At the beginning of this text,some of the synagogue leaders asked for a ‘sign’ or ‘attesting miracle.’ Thingabout it is, they had just witnessed Jesus performing an ‘attesting miracle’ byhealing a demon possessed man who was also blind and mute. Being mute mighthave indicated that he was also at least hard of hearing if not completelydeaf. (See vv 22-23.) And some of the other synagogue leaders had put Jesus upto it, presumably as a test.

Why do you suppose they askedagain for another miracle? Did they not believe their eyes? Were they afraid tobelieve what they had just witnessed? Was this just a trick?

Why do you suppose we continuallytest Jesus too? Are we just not sure that He’s the Son of God? Do we believemore in our humanness that in His omnipotence?

As was Jesus’ custom, He mettheir curiosity with a wonderful teaching on faith. He compared Himself and Hisredemptive plan to a well known historical figure that all the people of Hisday knew about : Jonah.

Are we not called to trust Himand what He is doing – not Test Him to do something we think will provesomething to us?

Jonah was sent to Nineveh to warn them ofimpending destruction. His message was “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be over thrown.” (See Jonah3:4.)

Jesus was sent to the entireworld because God loved them. Jesus message of redemption was, “Come to me allyou who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.”

Isaiah talks about the results ofunbelief in Is. 28:14 & 22: “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, Oscoffers…..And do not carry on as scoffers, or your fetters will be madestronger.”

The original lie that Satan triesto get us to believe is: “God is not trustworthy.” In the Garden Adam & Evefell because they believed the lie.

God called His people out of Egypt withsigns and wonders. It was in the wilderness that God proved to His people Israel that Hecould be trusted by providing food and water for them. The word says He did it10 times. Yet, they still didn’t trust Him and were “laid low in thewilderness.”

We are called to be like the newgeneration of Israelites who came out of the wilderness into the promise.