Day 39 - Deuteronomy 8:3

A Fasted Journey for Spiritual Renewal

Day 39

“And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

-Deuteronomy 8:3

When Jesus was coming to the end of fasting for 40 days he was “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1). Curious phraseology here. Matthew indicates that the purpose of Jesus going into the wilderness was so that he would be tempted. Furthermore, that he was led by the Holy Spirit to go there. So the Holy Spirit intentionally led Jesus in order that he would be tempted.

Why? I won’t pretend to know the full extent as to why, but clearly Jesus fasting for 40 days and then being tempted by Satan himself at the end of that time was in accordance with God’s sovereign purposes. Perhaps it was in order to draw the Son closer to the Father. Perhaps it was to show Satan that his manipulation of God’s Word would not stand when faced with the truth that is Christ. Perhaps it was to show the man aspect of Jesus that he could be tempted, yet not overcome with temptation. Perhaps it was for all these reasons and more.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” I certainly have been tempted in the last 39 days. Tempted by the thought of food, the sight of food, and even the idea that “I” could fast 40 days. That is to say, I was tempted by the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life. I was tempted by other things too and certainly was not without sin during this time. Unlike Christ who not only completed a lengthy fast without sinning, but lived a sinless life.

Satan tempted Jesus with the lust of the eyes. Knowing that Jesus was hungry he told him to turn stones into loaves of bread. Certainly Jesus could have done so, but instead he responded by drawing from today’s verse in Deuteronomy when he said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

God allowed His people to be hungry in the desert after fleeing Egypt. He allowed this hunger so they would draw near to Him and trust Him to take care of their needs. I don’t want to get too pragmatic about Christ’s fast, but I wonder, if in similar fashion, part of why Jesus fasted, and even why he was allowed to be tempted here at the end of it was to draw Him closer to the Father while he was on earth and to trust in Him to take care of Jesus’s human needs, even in the midst of human temptation.

Jesus’s response, drawing from Deuteronomy, also cuts to the core of Satan’s temptation. Satan tried to tempt Jesus with his own ability to miraculously turn stone into bread. This tempting was also to try and turn Jesus from the Father and not to the Father. Jesus recognized, as the Jews eventually did too during their wilderness journey, that God’s Word is the more important sustenance as food is temporary whereas our spiritual need and dependence on God is eternal.

One of my primary takeaways and most important aspects of this fast has been the dependence on God. I believe I have depended on God throughout my life, but this fast has shown me a deeper need, yearning, and realization of what that dependence looks like. It has also shown me how that dependence manifests itself in real time. I certainly have been tempted with food along the way, but the dependence on God prevailed. It only prevailed because of Him and through Him, not because of me or anything I have done. I am grateful for the grace He has given me during this time so I could persevere to this point.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” The Lord certainly has been faithful during this fast, as well as during this interesting time of life that has brought me to this point. I wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for Him guarding me against the evil one.

I am not a medical professional. This journal is about my spiritual path and about that which the Lord has placed on me. This is not medical advice, nor was this fast done for any medical purpose. If you have a medical interest, seek medical advice. If you have particular health concerns, seek medical advice and/or conduct your own research. Any fasting advice, effects, realizations or anything else related to my fast come from my personal reflection and experience. If you are considering fasting, consulting with a healthcare provider may be appropriate for you.