Satan looks for an opportune time to tempt us. In this account of Christ’s temptation, as in the temptation of Eve, we see that he watches for and taps into our wants, desires, needs, and longings. He watches for an instant of focus on a desire and pounces, first addressing that want with opportunity for fulfilling it. With Eve it was longing for a forbidden fruit. With Jesus, it was physical hunger.

The desire may not be a bad thing. Bread is not bad. It’s a staple and is a form of food that provides the best source of some vitally needed micro-nutrients. But Jesus recognized it was not God offering: not His hand, His timing, or His desire. So Jesus stood His ground and looked to the Bread of Life – the Living Word of God – for strength to withstand.

Next Satan turned to testing the rightful and true understanding of God’s Who – His intent. With Eve it was, “Did God really say…?” With Jesus, “You know You can safely do this I ask because of God’s promise to protect You.”

When God says, “Test Me in this,” as He did in Malachi’s instructions to encourage our faithful tithing with understanding that God meets faithful obedience with His ample supply, that is good. But Satan trying to challenge belief in God’s goodness and faithfulness is from evil intent. It is set to turn the heart to challenge God with an attitude of “prove it!” It is set to take advantage of the goodness of God with evil purpose.

And finally, Satan sets out to test our sincere trust in God, raising up doubts that lead us to fall away from Him. With Eve, he caused her to believe God was lying in order to keep her from a good that would make her as God is, knowing all. She forgot that she already possessed God’s image, having been made like Him, and was led to feel there must be more to have. With Jesus, Satan tried to set himself up as being as God, able to give Jesus the promised reward, and willing to do so without requiring Him to give Himself in a painful sacrifice.

Both Eve and Jesus had to decide if they trusted God and believed Him to be the Greater One. Eve failed and Adam willingly followed her lead, bringing us all here, to an ever growing evil age. Jesus, however, chose trust in God and won the day, along with our eternity. He is the example we must follow if we are to take temptation seriously, realize it’s intent, and walk in victory. In Him is Life, abundant and full, and Life is the Light of men.

Following Jesus, remaining in the Light of His countenance, we can realize when Satan has found opportunity with us, and trust that God will use it as opportunity for us to walk in victory as our desire for Him leads to seeking Him knowing we will find Him faithful.

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” Ephesians‬ ‭5:6-10‬