Introductory Thoughts
Food is a necessity for sustaining life. Interestingly, the Bible records several instances where a man’s need for food became a source of great temptation. For instance, Esau was willing to sell his birthright because he considered one meal more valuable than his future inheritance. The Bible also records several instances where the children of Israel allowed their desire for food to incite rebellion against the Lord (Numbers 11:4-6). Another very important example of appetite involves the earliest narratives recorded in Genesis involving an overwhelming appetite. In the garden, Eve partook of the forbidden fruit when she “saw that the tree was good for food” (Genesis 3:6). Due to the many examples of inordinate appetite leading to sin, it comes as no surprise that the Devil first sought to tempt the Lord by commanding stones to be made bread (Luke 4:3) after He had fasted for forty days.
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): The children of Israel allowed their lust for food and lack of faith to cause them to disobey God. The Lord gave His people explicit instructions. He provided manna every morning and told them to take only what was necessary for each day and not save any for the next day. Some of the people allowed their appetite to rule them (Exodus 16:14-20). Read Solomons prayer about food (Proverbs 30:8c-9).
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(For everyone): How can mans need for food cause him to sin? How can it be used against believers in their time of weakness (i.e., persecution)?
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How often do you complain against the Lord because of the food that He has provided for you? Does allowing your appetite for food to be more important than pleasing the Lord upset you?
Prayer Thoughts
- Thank God for the food that He supplies.
- Ask God to keep your appetite from being a source of sin.
Song
TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE
