A Way of Escape
Scripture
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:6-13).
Reflection
Have you ever felt the pressure of finding clues during an escape room experience? I remember the first time I played the game. At first, it felt like I would never find the way to freedom; it seemed as if there was no possible way out. Sooner or later, however, I came to realize that I wasn’t going to escape on my own.
I didn’t have to find the way out alone. One of the best parts about my experience was that I had my friends with me, and we uncovered the right clues and found our way out together. After we read the instructions, searched the timed mechanisms, and found the clues, we helped each other find the way of escape.
1 Corinthians 10 tells us that God will always provide a way to escape from evil. We see Paul’s reminded the Corinthians of various temptations: idolatry, sexual immorality, testing the Lord, and grumbling. All of these temptations are recorded throughout Israel’s history, and not one of them is unfamiliar to us; as we read about them, we realize that there is no unique temptation. Those accounts also show us that there is no temptation that has not been overcome by God’s people.
These moments of trials and testing are like mighty ocean waves during a fierce storm. In Mark 4, furious waves nearly swamped the boat Jesus and his disciples were on before Jesus calmed the storm by the command of his voice. The disciples had asked him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” As we read the disciples’ question, we may recall seasons in our lives when we found ourselves asking similar things: Does God see what I’m going through? Is this temptation too much, more than I can escape?
The temptations we face may be intense in the heat of the moment, similar to an escape room experience. If, during this Lenten season, you find yourself experiencing storms of temptation, know that you are not alone. The good news is that we don’t have to battle temptation on our own; God’s sovereign hand protects us each step of our journey, and he will always provide a way of escape.
Prayer
Our Father in Heaven, thank you that you are working in our lives as you protect us from fierce storms of trials and testing. Please lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever! Amen.
2024 Lenten Journey
Adrian Brown