If you have you ever participated in a personality test then you may have been alarmed at the results, namely how predictable people are. That after answering a few simple questions or choosing a handful of words, people can be sorted into categories with uncanny accuracy is remarkable. Marketing firms spend billions of dollars annually to collect data so they can target individual groups of consumers. This only works if people are predictable. And they are.
In many ways the predictability of people is not race, gender or age specific. Nor does one’s country of origin, primary language or socioeconomic status have a bearing. People are people and they demonstrate patterns that are, well, predictable.
The Adversary knew this when he approached Jesus in the wilderness. The Son of God took the form of a man and subjected Himself to examination by the Devil. This was his window of opportunity to tempt the God-man. What angle would he take? What would have the greatest likelihood of success? What temptations would the Evil One choose that had 1,500 years of “big data” on sin to draw from?
The first was to question God’s provision. Seeing that Jesus was hungry, the Evil One baited Jesus into turning rocks into bread. The first way in which mankind is predictable is to give in during times of weakness. Note that this temptation was not presented early into Jesus’ time in the wilderness. He waited until Jesus was hungry. That is to say, the need was real. There is the predictability! One moment that you are most likely to surrender to temptation is when you are experiencing a legitimate need. Part of being “lured or enticed by your own desire” is a sinful focus on a real need. Jesus, however, moves His focus from the need to the God Who provides.
But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4)
The second temptation involved a command for Jesus to throw Himself down from a high place. The Devil even quoted Scripture to assure Jesus that no harm would come to Him. The second way in which mankind is predictably susceptible to temptation is to claim God’s biblical promises for unbiblical personal advantage. To be “more than conquerors” is not to be without pain or difficulty. It means you cannot, under any circumstances, be separated from the love of God. God cannot be manipulated through a creative application of Bible verses.
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matt. 4:7)
In the third temptation the Devil went all in. He took Jesus to a very high mountain and offered extravagant earthly glory over the kingdoms of the world if He would but bow the knee to the Devil. The Evil One took his last shot with the most predictably certain temptation of all—pride. Was there ever a lower hanging fruit than pride? (I think Adam and Eve would say no.) Perhaps revealing too much about himself, the Devil dangled that carrot of ultimate glory, that of worship. He promised Jesus, “All these I will give you.” Jesus’ response was to appeal to the very first of the ten commandments.
Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” (Matt. 4:10)
Two millennia have passed since this took place, yet the temptations remain. You face them because they are so effective—because we are so predictable. In your legitimate need, remember that God will provide! Cling to God’s actual promises. Do not put Him to the test. When the world dangles the carrot of pride at the expense of your faith, resist! Love the Lord your God with your heart, soul, mind and strength. Do not be a temptation statistic. Be vigilant for the Devil’s tactics and oppose predictability.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:14–15)