Led Into the Wilderness by the Spirit of Yahweh
Matthew 4:1-11
At once I found myself in prison. How I arrived I could not recall, though my head ached with a pain I found words could not describe. I could think of no reason for my incarceration and yet there I lay in stocks, bound at ankles and wrists.
Had I been put in prison for proclaiming the good news of God? I feared that was the case. I determined to attribute my misfortune to the Holy Spirit. Perhaps he carried me into a wilderness as he had once carried my Lord Jesus.
After going four days without food or water and growing hungry, a welcomed visitor arrived. The guard deposited another individual beside me. No sooner had the individual become settled in his stocks than he began to recount his life of crimes. When at last I commented that I was a Hebrew and how we held to a higher law, a moral standard issued by the god who created the heavens and earth, he answered in a most dismissive manner.
“If indeed you serve this ‘Son of God’ and have his ear, tell these stones beneath our heads to become bread.”
“It is written,” I replied, “‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
“So this Son of God you serve cannot save you? Perhaps he is not son of deity at all.”
I replied, “Already saved I am. Jesus forgave my transgressions. I am now free from the bondage of sin. But as to liberating me from this prison, that is not for me to declare nor demand. I must wait on the Lord for his will to be done.”
“And content with your plight you are? If this Jesus loves you, as you claim, will rush through those doors and rescue you. For well I know that it is written:
‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
I answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
“Ah, but you have not put him to the test. Rather it is the god of yours who is putting you to the test. Let us make a pact,” he man continued. “I will give you half my estate if you will help me overpower the guard when he returns. In this way we can escape and be free of these chains.”
“Away from me, you demon of the devil. It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, obey his commands, and serve him only.'”
“Of what good are these commands you speak if you are not a free man?”
“In all ways Yahweh is good and loving. His words are true, his love pure. He is faithful to sustain me.”
In that moment the door opened. Without so much as acknowledging me, our guard bent down and unshackled the other man.
“This guard,” said the fellow, “now he understands the value of power, influence, and wealth.”
From out of a purse I had not noticed, the man pulled out five coins with the face fo Caesar stamped into each.
As the man turned to follow the guard out into freedom, he paused and looked back. With a wry smile he said, “Be of good cheer, Hebrew. Perhaps the angels of your god may yet came and attended you. But if not, at least you will die in this wretched place with your faith in tact.
When the door slammed shut I found myself once more in darkness. While tears streaked my cheeks, I returned to my praying, continuing as I began. “My father, you are in heaven and I am here. Your name is holy. Mine is John Mark. Lord, today, provide for my every need and lead me not…”
