When Jesus was tempted by Satan, he answered each of the three tests with a quote from the Bible. In each case, from the book of Deuteronomy, the book of the Bible that explains Israel’s time in the wilderness, and prepares them to enter the Promised Land. When tempted to use his power to turn stones to bread to satisfy his hunger, Jesus replied “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
This passage is taken from Moses’ speech to the people, looking back over a forty-year journey in the wilderness, and explaining God’s purposes in the journey. God wanted the people to learn a lesson, the lesson that spiritual food is our truest and most important source of sustenance. And the core spiritual food is the Word of God.
No matter what life throws our way, we are on an epic journey through the wilderness that is this world. And it will be over before we expect. The Lord is speaking to us every day in every circumstance, imploring us to make the most of our trek. To be healthy on the journey, we need sustenance, and God’s Word is our truest source.
Sometimes it is easy to hear his voice and obey and sometimes it is difficult. But the truth remains, and God’s word is truth. God is available in every situation. When we hunger, let’s remember to turn to the true source to be filled, God’s word.
“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 the LORD.”
– Deuteronomy 8:3