Forgive Us Our Debts, and Lead Us Not into Temptation (WST 105-106)

[Sung Psalm: 44]

Why does Jesus teach us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.”?

There are some who would say that there is no reason to pray this. After all, God would never lead someone into temptation, would he?!

Job would beg to differ! Sunday evening, as we go through the book of Numbers, we are remembering Israel’s rebellion in the wilderness. It can be really easy to read those stories and conclude that trial and difficulty is always a ‘judgment’ – punishment for sin.

That’s what Job’s friends say. They see what happened to Job, and they conclude that Job must be guilty.

But Job protests his innocence. And Job is right. That’s what God says to Satan – “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against to destroy him without reason.” (Job 2:3)

The story of Job reminds us that sometimes God does lead us into temptation. The story of Job also reminds us that just because God leads us there, does not mean that we have a good excuse for sin...