Stretched to the Limit
1st Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and Elohim is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
I well remember the day as a young man when my eyes were opened to the true meaning of this passage. The result of this revelation was anger, which lasted for days. Ultimately, it resulted in additional insight into following Yeshua Mashiach. However, those several days are deeply etched into my mind and heart. I hope I can adequately share with you this day some of those insights.
Part of the purpose of testing is to help one grow. This growth can be in any number of areas or even a multitude of areas simultaneously. However, in order to attain that growth, one must first be taken into that mode. That mode does not seem to exist outside of trials; the more difficult the trial, the greater the growth potential. In fact, the closer one walks with YHWH, the more frequently one will be taken to this extreme.
Please note that the above passage contains a promise that Elohim will not test one beyond what one is capable. This is a wonderful promise. However, along with that promise is also another promise which is veiled. That is, one is promised that he will be taken to that limit. This will happen consistently and continually. It seems that the only way in which one can truly grow is to be taken to this limit. The more frequently one is taken to the limit, the more he grows.
However, here is the rub. The more one grows, that is, the more one becomes spiritually mature, the higher the limit. The higher the limit, the more difficult a trial must be in order for one to be taken to the limit and for growth to ensue. The more mature one is in his spirit, the more difficult the trial YHWH places upon him.
This knowledge produced my anger so long ago, when I understood that the more I grew in Mashiach Yeshua, the more difficult the trials He would place upon me. It just did not seem fair, so, it made me angry. That is, until I understood that this was a great privilege. YHWH placed upon me greater and greater burdens because He trusted me to trust Him.
Another realization which came to me during this time was the whole concept of fairness. I came to see that YHWH does not deal in fairness; rather, He deals in justice and compassion. Fairness is based upon what an individual wants or needs. In short, fairness is a manifestation of selfishness. If self is offended in some way, in any way, then self deems that offence to be unfair. This will be more difficult to see if self has judged unfairness in the case of another. However, if carefully examined, what has happened usually is that self has vicariously placed himself in the other’s position and decided that such treatment to self is not right, not fair. Self loves to be treated with love, dignity, and respect. Anything which violates this is viewed as unfair.
YHWH does not deal with His people according to their self-motivated ideas of fairness. He loves them, so at times He must discipline them. At times that discipline can be severe. This discipline is always meted out in the fullness of His love. One’s idea of fairness may get in the way of seeing His discipline for the love it contains.
Another portion of the above passage tells us that, along with the trial, Elohim provides the way of escape. Please note, this is not “a” way of escape, but rather, it is “the” way of escape. And we know from other passages that Yeshua Mashiach is “the way.” Only in Yeshua is the way provided to go through the trial and be victorious. In part, this is true because Yeshua is the only person who walked all the way through every single trial in this life and yet did not sin. He has suffered the full weight of all trials. Whereas, you and I often stumble and fall under the weight of the trial. This results in the full weight of the trial being cut short. Therefore, we do not feel the full weight of the trial like Yeshua has. If we can be honest with ourselves, falling short is almost always due to taking our eyes off of Yeshua and attempting to march to victory without Him. Pride causes stumbling. Humility brings victory.
It takes a humble spirit to be able to accept the reality that one’s increasing maturity in Mashiach Yeshua will bring upon himself ever increasing trials and burdens, many of which are directly from the hand of the Almighty. This is one of the many ways in which our Creator shows His love towards us. YHWH increases one’s responsibility as he shows that he can handle that responsibility. The greater the trial, the greater one’s responsibility is within that trial to be victorious. There are always others watching how we act and react within our own personal trials. Some of those people are near and others are far off, but there are always others watching. If we falter, it can be cause for discouragement. If we are victorious through the trial, it can be a cause for great encouragement. This is a lot of responsibility and YHWH does not give this out lightly.
YHWH starts out by giving us small, seemingly inconsequential trials. Over time the trials He places upon us are greater and greater. The more one shows He can handle it, the more YHWH will place upon him.
YHWH is asking each person to partner with Him to accomplish great things in overcoming whatever comes into one’s life. This shows those observing that it can be done, and be done in a dignified manner which brings glory and honor to our Savior Mashiach Yeshua.
Shabbat Shalom
Zerubbabel ben Emunah
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