Lord, Throughout These Forty Days...6

In a previous post, I outlined an allusion to Israel's 40 years in the Wilderness in Jesus' 40 days in the Wilderness. From the many parallels, I concluded that Jesus replaces the failed Israel through His conquest of temptation through the application of the lessons Israel should have learned in the Wilderness. He leaves this place to call and form his band of 12 and initiate a new people of God.

Today I begin another reflection on a parallel to Jesus' temptation there. In Genesis we find Adam and Eve failing in the face of temptation.

Together Adam and Eve were the whole of humanity 1) then, as the only two of the species and 2) in the future as the common ancestors of all others. In a very clear way, their choices impact not just themselves but all people. Adam served as a sort of head of the human family. All others procede from his seed. His decisions impact all of us like those of a leader of any group. As prototype, potentate and parent, when this one man rebels and suffers the just consequences of such a move, all humanity did -- then and forever.

Look at the surroundings of our First Parents' temptation. Adam lived in a perfect world. God had created a world full of food. Adam and Eve always had enough to eat and more. They had variety and choice.They were full. The climate-controlled Garden afforded them to live comfortably without clothing for warmth. It never even rained on them. The animals co-existed without tooth or claw or danger of harm. They lacked nothing.

Their hearts were in perfect alignment with God's. They discoursed with the Divine. They willed what He willed. They had intimate, personal relationship with their Creator.  Every choice was moral except one. No barrier existed between humanity and Divinity.

The relationship between Adam and Eve also reflected perfection. They enjoyed intimacy without covering or concealing. They communed without shame. Of all creation, Adam knew Eve completed him, countered his loneliness and cooperated in their life's work. They were to tend the garden, govern the world, reflect God to all the rest of creation and fill the earth with more humans.

Now contrast the temptation setting of Jesus. He faces temptation alone, without close companion. He faces temptation in a Wilderness. Desolation, and perhaps desert, provide temptation's terrain. There depravation ruled. There wild animals roamed. Danger lurked behind bush and boulder. Jesus has not eaten in 40 day and nights. He hungers. Exposure to the elements -- hot sun in the day, cold in the night, rain, wind -- all may have added to the pressure propelling the temptation plot. Every choice was immoral except one.

That Adam failed should surprise us, humble us, and warn us. Under ideal circumstances, he failed. He tried to make perfection better, to rise above his God-given position, to add to his complete provision. But despite all of God's manifold blessings, Adam failed utterly.

That Jesus did not fail should impress us, humble us, and encourage us. Everything added to the pressure of temptation.In dire staits, Jesus chooses to leave well-enough alone, to remain constant in His character, to rely on the Father's provision. Despite all of the enemy's manifold temptations, Jesus triumphs totally.

Thanks be to God that Jesus, being tempted and overcoming, can help us in our Wilderness -- no matter how challenging -- and lead us to victory over temptation. A victory that comes only with and through Him.