Does God Tempt - or just Test us?

Why pray "lead us not into temptation" if He doesn't? James says we are tempted by our own lusts. So the balance is God leads us into temptation by our own lusts on occasion.

 

Maybe God 'tests' by using Satan and the spirits to 'tempt'.

Who moved David?:
1 And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah. 2 Sam 24

1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. 1 Chr 21

Who enticed Ahab?:
20 And Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner; and another said on that manner.
21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him.
22 And Jehovah said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so.
23 Now therefore, behold, Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets; and Jehovah hath spoken evil concerning thee. 1 Ki 22

Who 'sifted' Peter?:
31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: Lu 22

Who 'buffeted' Paul?:
7 And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. 2 Cor 12

Who tempted Christ?
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil Mt 4

Who afflicted Job?
12 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah. Job 1
6 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life. Job 2

 

I've been chastened by the Lord many times. And He used my unrepentant lust to cure me the hard way. It was my lust that He opened the doors for temptation and failure. It was some of the worst experiences ever. I walk a fine line today. It's true when John says "we cannot sin" if born-again. He won't stand for it.

 

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb 10

 

Sin tempts us.
God allows sin to tempt us, meaning God ordains that sin can tempt humans.
God, himself, was tempted, yet was without sin.
Hebrews 4:14-16
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 5:7-9
While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

God does not tempt anyone, but God does use sin's temptation to teach us obedience and perseverance.

 

Indeed. He chastises us and keeps us in the way.

 

That Hebrew word is used the first time in Genesis 22:1.
34 verses in the OT.
And the Greek word is used its first time in Genesis 22:1 in the LXX. But only 29 verses in the LXX.
This Greek word is first used in Matthew 4:1 in the NT.
And is used in 35 verses in the NT.

 

Have you ever been chastised by God? If you ever are, you will know the meaning.