While in the wilderness, Jesus was tempted by the devil. Satan did not pop out from behind a tree to frighten Jesus as He arrived. Instead, Satan waited until Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights. I have never gone more than a day without eating so I can only imagine how tired, weak, and hungry Jesus must have felt at that point. And it was then, while Jesus was vulnerable, that the devil appeared to tempt him.
When we are feeling discouraged or weak, sometimes we forget to turn to God. I am certain the enemy knows this and while our troubles or 'hunger' distracts us from what is right, Satan offers tempting consolation in sin. The man that gets laid off from his job unexpectedly might let his perceived suffering push him to drinking instead of bringing him to God for advice and assistance. Jesus, as worn down as He must have been out there in the wilderness, never made such as mistake.
The devil tempted Jesus with food and power but while He was physically starving to death, He was spiritually full. Jesus had just sat down to a forty night feast of prayer and meditation and when evil came, He was prepared. At each temptation offered by the devil, Jesus responded by quoting scripture until Satan was forced to leave in defeat. Men shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God -Matt 4:4. I think Jesus's victory over temptation here really demonstrates the importance of having a strong foundation in God's Word, the Bible. No matter how bad the pangs of hunger might tear at your insides, the Word will always be there to provide sustenance.
Jesus, I pray that we might be able to do as you did. Let us eat heartily at the table of the Word that we may never be spiritually hungry. Help us to understand the Bible and send evil away in defeat when it comes to tempt us.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied -Matt 5:6
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