The Temptation of Power
“…power belongeth unto God.” (Psalm 62:11)
Before Jesus started His public ministry, He fasted in the desert for forty days, during which time the devil tempted Him in various ways. One of these was the temptation of power:
“And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.” (Luke 4:5-7)
Satan claimed to control the governments of the world as if no one got into power without his consent: “for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” That was a lie. A nation may have wicked leaders whom the devil influences, but Psalm 75:6-7 says clearly that power over mankind belongs only to God. “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”
Still, people in power can be tempted to use power wickedly. Pharaoh told his people, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.” (Exodus 1:9-10)
People in power who do wicked things may try to justify their actions. On the pretence of “saving Egypt”, Pharaoh instituted policies of persecution and infant genocide against the Jews: “And the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage,” (Exodus 1:13-14) “And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter shall ye save alive.” (Exodus 1:22)
Pharaoh had babies tossed into the river to drown or be eaten by crocodiles allegedly to “save Egypt”, but the devil had a far more sinister reason to tempt Pharaoh to do this. God told Abraham the Saviour of the world would come through his lineage: “…and in thee [in Abraham’s line, from which Jesus came] shall all families of the earth [not just Jewish families] be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) No Jews, no Saviour. No Saviour, humanity is doomed forever.
Here was Jesus’ reply to this temptation: “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Luke 4:8) If you are in politics, police work, media, or any other place of power or influence, you can expect to be tempted to use your power wrongly. Yet this verse can be a special help to you. It will remind you that God holds all power and has allowed you to be where you are to worship and serve Him, not serve yourself.
Jesus “…was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:14) Yet He “…bare our sins in his own body on the tree,” (1 Peter 2:24) He died for us and rose again! “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;” (Revelation 1:18) Whenever you are tempted to sin, then, no matter how, the Lord can help you: “For in that he himself [Jesus] hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour [help] them that are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18)
If you want to see how to receive Jesus as your personal Saviour and have eternal life, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 4/20/2022
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822