"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13).

I have heard the above passage referred to as a "refrigerator verse" in that it should always be before us, like something that is stuck on our refrigerator. This is an important verse in many ways, but in this article I want to consider some things this verse teaches us about our God.

1. God is no respecter of persons. God does not single us out regarding temptation. He allows us to experience what is "common to" all men. We are all subject to temptations which appeal to us through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).

While we may be called upon to struggle with difficult situations, we should never entertain the idea that God has it out for us or is allowing us to be tempted to a greater degree than others.

2. God is faithful. The centerpiece of this great verse is the faithfulness of God. He can be counted on to keep His word. This characteristic of God is stated throughout the Bible. "Great is Your faithfulness" (Lam. 3:23). "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself" (2 Tim. 1:13). "In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began" (Titus 1:2).

3. God is in control. God does not tempt us to sin (James 1:13-15), but God is greater than the tempter and exercises authority over him. God allowed Satan to afflict Job, but He limited Satan regarding what he could do (Job 1:11-12; 2:5-6). God allows us to be tempted, but never allows us to be tempted beyond our ability to resist.

4. God knows our limitations. God knows what each of us can endure. He will never allow us to face anything greater than what He knows we are able to handle. Paul prayed three times that his "thorn in the flesh" would be removed. The Lord denied this request. Paul needed the thorn to humble him. Rather than remove the thorn, the Lord promised to give him the strength to endure it (2 Cor. 12:7-10). God knows both how much adversity we can handle and how much adversity we need to handle.

5. God is our deliverer. Not only is God faithful not to allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle, He is faithful to provide a means of deliverance out of every temptation. God is a great deliverer. He delivered His people from Egypt (Ex. 3:8) and from Babylon (Ezra 9:13). He delivered the Jews from the plot of Haman (Esther 4:14). He delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego from the fiery furnace (Dan. 3:17). Because God delivered Noah and Lot from destruction, we should have faith that He "knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations" (2 Pet. 2:4-9).

God provides us with the way to escape from every temptation, but we must be willing to take it. The Children of Israel had to walk out of Egypt to escape their bondage. The Jews had to fight and defend themselves to escape annihilation at the order of Haman (Esther 8:11). Noah had to build the ark, and Lot had to flee the city. Joseph had to run away from Potiphar's wife (Gen. 39:12). We have to take the way of escape that God faithfully provides.

We serve a great God. His attributes are displayed in His physical creation and described in His written revelation. Let's learn more about God, His care and love for us, and His desire to have fellowship with us both now and in eternity.