'Do not test the Lord' - what does 'testing' actually mean?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
U

User46952

Member
#1
Mar 12, 2019
55
12
8
#1
When the Bible says "do not test the Lord your God", what it actually means?

Exodus 17:1-2: Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel.. camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink.
Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water that we may drink. " And Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?"

Here they asked for water to drink because they were thirsty. How does this become 'testing the God'?
What the word 'testing' really means?

Isaiah 7:11-12: "Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make [it] deep as Sheol or high as heaven. "
But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord! "

And from the above verse we understand that 'asking for sign from God' is 'testing the God'.
But ex 17:2 doesn't seem looking for a sign. Any thoughts?
 
U

User46952

Member
#2
Mar 12, 2019
55
12
8
#2
Also here God says 'test Me'.
Malachi 3:10: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, " says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
 
C

cuz

Guest
#3
#3
gen 3
4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat

how did eve do when she tested the lord ?
she died
she took charge
she did not stand on what God had said
she looked for her self
she faced death and thought God lied
but then death came
 
C

cuz

Guest
#4
#4
God said love people as I have loved you
I dont think I wont to test that :)
 
G

garee

Banned
#5
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
#5
User46952 said:
When the Bible says "do not test the Lord your God", what it actually means?

Exodus 17:1-2: Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel.. camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink.
Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water that we may drink. " And Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?"

Here they asked for water to drink because they were thirsty. How does this become 'testing the God'?
What the word 'testing' really means?

Isaiah 7:11-12: "Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make [it] deep as Sheol or high as heaven. "
But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord! "

And from the above verse we understand that 'asking for sign from God' is 'testing the God'.
But ex 17:2 doesn't seem looking for a sign. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

It could mean don't challenge the authority, the power of God that lives in a person . He wrestled Jacob down and pined him for the ten count .We walk by faith not against flesh and blood . . . a sign for yourself. (no faith )

No sign gifts .
 
SoulWeaver

SoulWeaver

Senior Member
#6
Oct 25, 2014
4,889
2,534
113
#6
You cited two different meanings of testing God, whether it's good or bad, it depends on context.

When someone loves you, you don't do stupid things or cause them grief needlessly, checking how much they love you. This is what is meant by "do not test God". In the specific situation you cited, the people complain and offend God by disbelief, after all good that was done for them.

In the second context you cited, God is encouraging people to do a good thing, assuring them their rewards won't be missing. "test Me now" is meant as encouragement to do a good thing.

In both contexts people are told to quit doubting and believe.
 
C

cuz

Guest
#7
#7
what was there quarrel

Exodus 17:3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst

Where was there trust ?
what did they think of God ? evil ?
they only made trouble . Drama thats what they loved
 
C

cuz

Guest
#8
#8
Isaiah 7:11-12: "Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make [it] deep as Sheol or high as heaven. "
But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!

Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

what is a sign ? its seen what is faith ? believing in what is not seen
those that seek a sign believe in what is seen
yet God has told them
why ask for a sign?
to test if its from the lord .
 
A

acts5_29

Active member
#9
Apr 17, 2020
327
89
28
#9
I am glad this question was asked, and it's a good one. I mean, there is clearly a contradiction in the Bible: first it says, "Do not test God," and then it turns around and says, "Test the spirits."

While the word "test" may be the same English word, there is a difference in the connotation, that I think you can see by reading all of the relevant passages closely enough. When Jesus was tempted, Satan was telling Jesus, "God made a promise. You should throw yourself off the cliff to see if He really means it." And the OT passage Jesus cited, it was talking about how God was gracious and forgiving; but still, it's a bad idea to keep on sinning and challenge God to see just HOW gracious He is. It seems to be a common theme of, "Do not put God's PATIENCE to the test."

But then God says, "Test me in this. Tithe, and see if I don't bless you." And elsewhere it says to test the spirits--so in other words, if you have a "gut feeling" that God is calling you to do something, then you should test whether that gut feeling indeed comes from God, or if it's just gas. It's not really the same thing as when Jesus was tempted.
 
MessageOfTheCross

MessageOfTheCross

Senior Member
#10
Sep 3, 2016
6,344
530
113
#10
User46952 said:
Also here God says 'test Me'.
Malachi 3:10: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, " says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
Click to expand...
I test this promise every pay day...my wife and I vats are so fill from the Lord, that we are always making trips to Goodwill or Salvation Army giving away the old what the new has replaced. O taste and see that the Lord is good. We do that by tasting Christ death with our faith and trust, maintained in Christ and Him Crucified...in other words taken up our cross and receiving all the benefits of this resurrection life. 2 Cor. 4:11, Psalm 103:2

The Cross is the answer...the only answer!
 
MessageOfTheCross

MessageOfTheCross

Senior Member
#11
Sep 3, 2016
6,344
530
113
#11
If you are in a bad marriage (sexless), children not listening, financial problems, jobless, bondage to the big five vices - alcohol, drugs, nicotine, gambling, pornography, ect., place your Faith and trust, maintaining it exclusively in Christ and His Finished Work at Calvary Cross where the victory was won, i.e., "The Blood of Jesus." I GUARANTEE VICTORY!!!!! O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOD!!!!!!!

THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS WILL WORK IMMEDIATLY!!!!!! ROMANS 8:2
 
C

cuz

Guest
#12
#12
Malachi 3:10: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, " says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

how to test God ? believe in the spirit not the flesh
in Exodus 17:1-2 they were with out water
had they trusted in the spirit
they would know they were ok
Isaiah 7:11-12 was a sign to prove what God said was true
again believing in what is seen
so what is God saying in Malachi 3:10
a tithe is to give up
let go of
give and get nothing
give up what is seen
trust in what is not seen

blessings
 
crossnote

crossnote

Senior Member
#13
Nov 24, 2012
30,770
3,679
113
#13
Matthew 4:6-7 (KJV) And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

In this case, 'testing/tempting' means to go beyond simple trusting the Lord and enter the realm of dictating to God what He should do. (In this case save your hide from a dumb move). TV Faith preachers are often guilty of this.
 
G

garee

Banned
#14
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
#14
SoulWeaver said:
You cited two different meanings of testing God, whether it's good or bad, it depends on context.

When someone loves you, you don't do stupid things or cause them grief needlessly, checking how much they love you. This is what is meant by "do not test God". In the specific situation you cited, the people complain and offend God by disbelief, after all good that was done for them.

In the second context you cited, God is encouraging people to do a good thing, assuring them their rewards won't be missing. "test Me now" is meant as encouragement to do a good thing.

In both contexts people are told to quit doubting and believe.
Click to expand...
The test is to see if men murmur or will they do the good work of Him working in us knowing in the end of the matter the better things that acompanies salvation is the promise he will not forget the good work performed yoked with him. . . that we do offer towards his name. Some desire some self edifying credit and murmur (what about me I am over here.)???

Two choices murmur (what about me) or give glory to God . . Not in part but the whole labor of His love.(both to will and to do of his good pleasure)

Philipians 2:13-14 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

His way or the wide highway (anyway) just believe.

Hebrew 6:9-10 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.




.
 
S

seed_time_harvest

Senior Member
#15
Dec 9, 2011
14,142
1,806
113
#15
John 20:26-29
KING James Version

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.