Testing God

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Quote:

Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

I have been wondering about the idea of *testing God*..... I've been told that the Lord wants us to test Him.. and the above quote seems to bear this out, even though it looks like it is only referring to titheing. Nearly all the texts I can find have to do with NOT testing God. Very confusing. Kinda leaves me hanging!

So....do we test God? or Not? Or only in some things? Or in everything?

[nuff sed]

IMO God is saying to us " I dare you to try me. I dare you to trust me to do what I have promised. I double dare you". "Prove Me now........."

[LifeHiscost]

So....do we test God? or Not? Or only in some things? Or in everything?

Probably has a lot to do with where a person's attitude lies. When God sees that a person is a willing learner of the principles He wishes them to follow but they are for one reason or another, confused or ignorant of His Love and Sovereignty, He invites them to explore His promises to those who pay attention

to His position as King of kings and Lord of lords. The Word 'test' is 'prove' in most other translations. IOW, "see for yourself if you will receive what I have promised".

""The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. " John 10:10 NASB

BTW, I believe some of those promises will come to pass in this life, in the darkness of the enemies territory, while others, as the Lord sees best, will only meet their fulfillment in the kingdom of heaven. Never give up hope.

"...and now there doth remain faith, hope, love -- these three; and the greatest of these [is] love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 YLT

Regards!

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

HI Rudywoofs,

Here's the way I see this: In Malachi, God is asking His people to prove to themselves how faithful He is by doing what He asks. This kind of testing is what He wants, because He loves to bless us. This also tells me that He may not bless us if we are not doing those things which He asks us to do and that are for our good.

The other kind of testing that comes to mind is one that kids do to their parents. Sort of a, "let's see how far we can push them" frame of mind. Anyone with a heart and soul would not do that to God. But even if they did disregard the love He has for them and did do this, God has known about that moment before the that individual was even born. So I don't think God would "get mad" a this. He will not be pleased with this but it's not something that will annoy Him as it would us.

Norman

[Clio]

Quote:

Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

I have been wondering about the idea of *testing God*..... I've been told that the Lord wants us to test Him.. and the above quote seems to bear this out, even though it looks like it is only referring to titheing. Nearly all the texts I can find have to do with NOT testing God. Very confusing. Kinda leaves me hanging!

So....do we test God? or Not? Or only in some things? Or in everything?

Pam -

Would you please come post this question over at The Potter's Wheel? There are some lovely ladies who participate there who I think would very much like to talk about this with you.

Clio

[Raphael]

Testing God, I think is testing His promises. And His promises are so numerous, almost upon everything. Claiming (or the test) His promises can't do without The Faith. It's the faith test on anything, I think that is whopping difficult. But it should be somehow reasonable coz it's the ultimate test, the final one.

Faith is believing you have received, I gather. Keeping the belief through the time test (of not fainting) is an additional matter, not less difficult, more perhaps. But anyone wishing to be spared grueling ordeals will be disappointed coz its the price, a cheap price someone mentioned.

I faint big time. But probably the frequencies may come less, hope so. Someone said it's a path, which I assume must be a process, so ... it must be good news...

God bless,

Raphael

[Woody]

Quote:

Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

I have been wondering about the idea of *testing God*..... I've been told that the Lord wants us to test Him.. and the above quote seems to bear this out, even though it looks like it is only referring to titheing. Nearly all the texts I can find have to do with NOT testing God. Very confusing. Kinda leaves me hanging!

So....do we test God? or Not? Or only in some things? Or in everything?

Could we look at this from a spiritual application?

If we tithe or do ANYTHING that the Lord asks us to do ... are we not spiritually blessed. So taste and see that the Lord [ and his ways ] are GOOD !!

Hang in there Pam.

[ChildofChrist]

Quote:

So, taste and see that the Lord [ and his ways ] are GOOD !!

The very passage that popped into my mind when I began reading this topic. He wants us to know Him intimately, He wants us to feel Him, He wants to nuture and strengthen us. But we need to give Him the open door so He can.

[psgodluvsu]

I agree with Raphael, it is testing His promises NOT His patience!

[Gerr]

Quote:

I have been wondering about the idea of *testing God*..... I've been told that the Lord wants us to test Him.. and the above quote seems to bear this out, even though it looks like it is only referring to titheing. Nearly all the texts I can find have to do with NOT testing God. Very confusing. Kinda leaves me hanging!

So....do we test God? or Not? Or only in some things? Or in everything?

Rudy, you are right! There are strong warnings about testing God~. The difference may be found in two things: 1) the Hebrew word for "test" in Mal 3:10 means "examine, prove, scrutinise, try". This is different from the Heb word used in Psalms 78. They tested/tempted God by doubting His ability to provide for them in the desert. This testing/tempting God is in the context of regellion against God.

2) If you read all the passages where God commanded the return of the tithe, I don't think you will find any specific blessing attached to it. It seems arbitrary. So not understanding the purpose of the tithe, there may have been a reluctance on the part of the Israelites to pay the full amount or paying any at all. The giver may have a tendency to think that giving 10% of what he owned would tend to poverty. Many in the church still do so today as seen by the fact that a good percentage of SDAs do not pay tithe at all. So in Malachi God (as Gladusee points out), dares us to scrutinise what kind of a Person He is, not in the context of doubt and rebellion, but to see what a generous God He is.

I hope that helps.

Gerry