Dictionary of Bible Themes: 8832 testing

8832 testing

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8700 Threats to the life of faith » 8832 testing

God allows his people to pass through certain experiences, so that he may see, and prove to them, that their faith in him is genuine. Believers sometimes doubt God and test him, to see if he is true to his word, but this is forbidden in Scripture.

God tests his people

James 1:2-3; 1 Peter 1:7 See also Job 7:17-18; Job 23:10; Psalm 11:5; Isaiah 1:25; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:3; James 1:12

Examples of God testing his people collectively

Exodus 16:4; Deuteronomy 8:2-3 See also Exodus 20:20 at the giving of the law; Deuteronomy 8:16 over the gathering of manna; Deuteronomy 13:3-4 by their attitude to a false prophet; Judges 2:20-3:4 by leaving nations in the promised land

Examples of God testing his people individually

Genesis 22:1-2 See also Judges 7:4-7 Gideon; 2 Chronicles 32:31 Hezekiah; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 Paul

Jesus Christ tested the faith of people when he was on earth

John 6:5-6 See also Matthew 15:22-28 pp Mark 7:25-30 a Canaanite woman; Mark 8:17-21 his disciples

Believers have a responsibility to test the quality of their lives

Romans 12:2 See also Psalm 17:3

David prayed to God to test him:

Psalm 26:2; Psalm 139:23 Lamentations 3:40; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 6:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:21

God will make a final test of believers' lives and service

1 Corinthians 3:12-15

People may test God as an expression of faith and obedience

Malachi 3:10 See also Judges 6:39

People must not test God as an expression of doubt and disobedience

Exodus 17:2 See also Exodus 17:7 fn; Numbers 14:22-23; Deuteronomy 6:16; Deuteronomy 33:8; Psalm 78:18,41,56; Psalm 95:8 fn; Matthew 4:7 pp Luke 4:12; Deuteronomy 6:16; Matthew 19:3 pp Mark 10:2; Acts 5:9; Acts 15:10; Hebrews 3:8-9

The command to test the spirits

1 John 4:1