So hungry you could eat a horse
Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. After spending forty days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry. Then the Devil came to him and said, ‘If you are God’s Son, order these stones to turn into bread.’
But Jesus answered, ‘The scripture says, “Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word that God speaks.”‘ (verses 1-4)
Read Matthew 4:1-11
Have you ever been so hungry you could ‘eat a horse’, as the old saying goes? If you have, then you should visit Czechoslovakia, where you can buy a salami made from horsemeat. Supposedly, it’s a delicacy. It’s amazing what you’ll accept as satisfactory when you have nothing else. Things you’d normally refuse, you accept gratefully in times of trouble.
This can happen with any of your physical, spiritual or emotional needs. You can be tempted to accept solutions that aren’t good ones. For instance, when you’re lonely, you might look for friendship in alcohol or cheap one-night relationships. If you feel unsuccessful in life, you might look to hide in drugs or non-stop partying. You might be looking for meaning in life, and accept the first trendy quack theory that comes along.
Jesus confronted temptation head-on, drew on God’s strength, and simply said no. You can do the same. When needs overwhelm you, don’t give in to false solutions. Do as Jesus did, and rely on God. God will meet your every need, no matter how ‘hungry’ you are.
God, sometimes I don’t even know when I’m being tempted. Help me to rely on you for strength in times of need. Amen
Devotion by Jonathan Krause from “Renewed Hope for each day” (LCA. Openbook Publishers, 2000)
Visit the Daily Devotion archives page.
