Musing - If we are not tested, what would happen to us?

He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. Deut.8:15-16  NIV

In 1924, a group of mountain climbers set out to conquer Mount Everest, whose summit had yet to be reached. Two climbers made it farther than the rest but then mysteriously disappeared. Somewhere close to the top, they were overcome by the elements and died. After the failed attempt to reach the summit, the rest of the party returned to London where they gave a briefing about the ill-fated adventure.
One of the climbers gave a review and then turned to a huge photograph of Everest that was mounted on the wall behind him. He said, “Everest, we tried to conquer you once, but you overpowered us. We tried to conquer you a second time, but again you were too much for us. But, Everest, I want you to know that we are going to conquer you, for you can’t grow any bigger, and we can!”

And so it is with many of the challenges in our own lives – they aren’t getting any smaller, but they aren’t getting any larger either. On the other hand, we can grow and change in order to overcome them.

One of our favorite books is “Good Grief” by B. E. Westberg. It deals with a 10 step grieving process we go through after suffering a loss; like the loss of a loved one, a job, a house, etc.  How can suffering a loss be “Good”?  The author points out how dealing with the losses that are inevitable in life actually can cause us to grow and mature.  We grow as we learn to keep losses in perspective.

In this week’s reading, as Moses continued his instructive review of the last 40 years, he recalled how God “ . . . led you through the vast and dreadful desert, …, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.”

In short, Moses reviewed the arduous trials and tests and obedience training that His Israelite children had to pass through; but through it all, they grew as a people and became worthy and capable of entering the Promised Land where others before them had failed.  People groups have typically survived for only a few hundred years at best.  The Jews, a Hebrew nation, have been here for about 4,000 years beginning with the call of Abraham. God’s test had a tremendous impact!

To me, the most instructive segment of these verses is the last part: “ . . . to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you.” This is where Moses pointed out that the purpose of all the tests in life (both for the Israelites and for us) is so that things will be good for us in the end.

Every test is an opportunity for positive growth. Every trial is a chance to shine. Every challenge brings out potential we never knew we possessed.

Points to ponder

Should children be allowed to endure trials and tests?

What major losses have you encountered in life? 
       What have you learned from the experience?

With God’s help, may you come through all trials and tests stronger and better than ever.

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,                                  January 5, 2016

Author: “Hebraic Insights”  “Biblical Marriage” “Musings v.1 – A Victorious Life”
“Musings v.2 – The Torah and New Testament” Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   www.InsightsByYosef.com

Note - Inspired by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein “Passing Through Our Tests” August 5, 2015