Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.—Ephesians 5:1

If the people who lived before the Flood had been obedient to the Word of God they would not have perished by the waters of the Flood. If the Israelites had been obedient to the words of God, He would have bestowed upon them special blessings. But they fell in consequence of the indulgence of appetite and passion. They would not be obedient to the words of God. Indulgence of perverted appetite led them into numerous and grievous sins. If they had made the requirements of God their first consideration, and their physical wants secondary, in submission to God’s choice of proper food for them, not one of them would have fallen in the wilderness. They would have been established in the goodly land of Canaan, a holy, happy people with not a feeble one in all their tribes.

The Saviour of the world became sin for the race. In becoming humanity’s substitute Christ did not manifest His power as the Son of God, but ranked Himself among the sons of men and women. He was to bear the trial of temptation as a man, in our behalf, under the most trying circumstances, and leave an example of faith and perfect trust in His heavenly Father. Christ knew that His Father would supply Him food when it would be for His glory. He would not in this severe ordeal, when hunger pressed Him beyond measure, prematurely diminish one particle of the trial allotted to Him by exercising His divine power.

Fallen human beings when brought into straightened places could not have the power to work miracles on their own behalf, to save themselves from pain or anguish, or to give themselves victory over their enemies. It was the purpose of God to test and prove the race, and give them an opportunity to develop character by bringing them frequently into trying positions to test their faith and confidence in His love and power. The life of Christ was a perfect pattern. He was ever, by His example and teachings, teaching men and women that God was their dependence, and that in Him should be their faith and firm trust.—Confrontation, 43, 44.

Further Reflection: Jesus willingly chose to experience every human challenge and extremity that He might help me develop character in life’s difficult moments. Have I given Jesus permission to make today a character-building day?