Aha Moment With Waffi English...

I read Ali Baba’s blog ‘The book Of Ali’ and his translation of Matthew 4  is so hilarious. It helped me understand and relate well with the temptation of Jesus. I’ve looked at the temptation of Jesus as well, the ‘temptation of Jesus’. It’s always been a far off happening, something out of the ordinary, beyond anything any ordinary person would go through. An event that happened a long time ago to God’s own son. More like his temptation was on a higher scale, kind of different from what we face because He is God and all… turning stone into bread? What human would the devil ask to turn stone into bread? So you see, i understood the temptation, but my minds eyes couldn't relate to it.

“Devil, that is Frank Edoho, con smile and frown at the same time, con face Jesus korokoro, (you see say him no DEY fear him head) and come and say, "You see all those things, crude oil, diamond, gold, babes,... Everything everything! I go dash you, if you just say migwo and tuuuuuaaale for me." This time Jesus Hunger don mix with vex turn to provoking. Jesus con Parannoyed join the matter. Bros Jay just hold Devil collar with one hand draw him e year, with the other hand... con warn am, "Fade commot for here Satan! Abi you no know say E DEY book say, "Make we DEY tuuuuaaaale only Jehovah and only him we go DEY butu for" so before the spit i spit for ground dry and I open my eye, Make you don vaaaa from here!”  Matthew 4:9-10(Ali Baba translation)

For those of you clueless about the language… (lol, warri English gives me aches for days trying to break down) Here’s the bible verse put plainly for you

“ Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him” (NLT)

“showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” Doesn’t really take your imaginations there. It’s like me reading fairy-tales all over again, and seeing pictures of kings with kingdoms that are far off in my imagination. But Ali’s translation jumped out and grabbed at me. It’s funny how it takes the complicated, in this case, the waffi language, to understand the simple. “crude oil, diamonds, gold, babes…”  You see, that’s more down to earth, that’s a picture my minds eyes captures easily, that’s something I’m quick to relate with in my day. (add luxury holidays, private jets, popularity etc)

That was the aha moment for me, especially when i remembered the verse that said He was tempted in every way, yet without sin “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” ( Hebrews 4:15 )” I so get it now.

Today we get that temptation thrown at us everyday… compromise on your standard just a little, and you get the best of the best. Turning stone into bread? Being the accounting officer and choosing not to get your daily bread from the stone(money) you've been put in-charge of... shunning corruption. Jumping off the pinnacle for angels to catch you? Oh, just indulge in this sin just once, after all, He's a loving God, He'll always forgive. etc The temptations are so real to me now.

Whom you face is who your heart conforms to… face God and invariably you worship Him, bowed to Him with your butt stuck out at the devil… turn your back on Him and you worship the devil. So whenever we choose to compromise our faith, to give into the temptation of bowing down to the wrong person for the juicy promises of the world(packed with hidden clauses), we stick our butts out at God.

It's not impossible to resist temptations, because Jesus was tried in everyway and He overcame, thus we can be victorious over sin too cos He’s made the same grace on His life available to us.…

“Before Jesus open eye SEF, Devil don bale! Body phone am, because, the angels begin land like Nigerian police after the gbege don finish... Come DEY form busy body give Jesus... But na only Angel Gabriel Jesus get him time... Him bring KFC with cold sprite. “ Vs 11 (Ali Baba Translation)

“Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.”Vs 11  (NLT)

After you have held on to your God and refused to compromise on His standards, even when you feel like you're about falling off the edge, He will strengthen you, and meet your needs in a big way. It says the angels took care of Jesus after His temptation… God will take care of us. Thats a thought we should hold on to when we find ourselves in the thick of temptations. 

Shun the easy way that leads to death, shun the instant gratification that leaves you with a heavy long term debt, shun it all and get a glorious provision… and angels came and took care of Jesus. Know He’ll surely take care of you too. "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. Jeremiah 17:7