knowledge, and devotion to God and his Word. Each of these elicits faith and love and stirs us to follow him. The temptations are instructive in many ways. Notice first that the movement from the Spirit’s empowerment in 3:16 to the temptations of 4:1–11 is logical, for in the world of mankind, every gift brings temptation. The gift of beauty tempts to vanity; the gift of strength tempts to domination. The gift of intellect tempts to manipulation; the gift of wealth tempts to indulgence. The gift
Page 77