23 Led Into The Wilderness Series 6

July 31, 2026

Paul Worden

One of the first things Jesus experienced after His baptism by John was a barren wilderness. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. The purpose? It is clearly stated: To be tempted by the devil. Read Matthew 4:1-11 before proceeding with today's devotion. Jesus had been in the wilderness fasting for forty days when the enemy came to tempt Him. Isolated and hungry, the desert is a strategic time for attacks by the enemy. In the first temptation, the enemy suggested that Jesus make bread from stones. What would be wrong with that? After all, He was hungry and He had the power to do it. But Jesus responded with the Word of God declaring that "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." If you read Deuteronomy chapter 8 from where Christ's response was drawn, you will see that the subject of the passage is Israel's hunger in the wilderness. The point of the chapter is that if Israel obeyed God, their needs would be provided. In His quotation, Jesus was drawing upon the whole context of the passage to illustrate that obedience is more important than fulfilling personal needs.