Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word. This week's question:

Temptations are as old as time itself, as the great tempter, Satan himself , has played his part in helping make sure that man stumbles in his way. Eve was tempted by the tree with the forbidden fruit and with Satan changing one word of God's statement encourages her to try it out, "And the Serpent said to the woman ,'You shall surely not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good from evil.' When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her and he ate." (Genesis 3:4-6).

And so, Eve and then Adam gave into the temptation and sin was born upon this earth. Then there is David who viewed Bathsheba, from his rooftop, bathing and was tempted by her beauty and he lay with her (1 Samuel 11:1-4).

Then there is Job, who lost all of his wealth, his sons and daughters, all in one day, and yet did not sin (Job 1: all)!

Then there was Achan who brought upon all of Israel the wrath of God as he kept some of the spoil of war as he was tempted by the gold pieces he found and with full knowledge of his household, buried it within his tent and was found out and he as well as all his house and his possessions were stoned with a great pile of stones (Joshua 7:25-26).

Judas was tempted by the riches of this world as he sold Jesus to the council for thirty pieces of silver and when he saw that his actions would have the Lord put to death, he hanged himself (Matthew 27:1-10).

That brings us to our question, "Are temptations limited by God?". Peter tells us about the great tempter, Satan, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8). Just as we are to, "…walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." (1 Thessalonians 2:12), and be fearful of the tempter drawing us away from the one faith (Ephesians 4:4) as Paul is greatly concerned that his labor of love would be in vain (1 Thessalonians 3:5), such as Demas who loved this present world more than the way to life (2 Timothy 4:10), or "for a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was brining in no little business to the craftsman;" (Acts 19:24) and Alexander the coppersmith, who also brought much harm to Paul (2 Timothy 4:14).

So just as we once walked in the ways of this sinful world, being tempted by the desires of it, "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the one who created him," (Colossians 3:5-10).

For we know that man can be drawn away from Him by his own lusts, "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lusts. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren." (James 1:14-16). The Lord asks that we pray that we may not enter into temptation (Mark 14:38), and with the riches of this world, many more temptations are ever before us (1 Timothy 6:9).

And so, to answer our question, let us read, "No temptation has overtaken you but such is common to man; and God 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. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." (1 Corinthians 10:13-14). And there we have the answer to our question, as the Lord will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear, and will have an escape provided for us!

Let us continue to pray that we will not be lead into temptation by the great tempter, and when we are, let us look for the way of escape that is promised by our Lord for life!