What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9, NIV)
The author of Ecclesiastes, who is most often considered King Solomon, suggests that nothing is truly new in our human experience. The author continues in the next verse, “Is there anything of which one can say, ‘Look! This is something new’? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.” While the details may vary, the core patterns of life—such as love, conflict, creativity, and struggle—remain unchanged.
We can see this struggle with temptations in the Bible's first book. In Genesis 3, the first sin is ego. The serpent convinces Eve that eating the fruit will make her “like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5), appealing to their desire for knowledge and divine, god-like status. In the next chapter, Cain, fueled by jealousy, kills his brother Abel when God favors Abel's offering over his own, marking the first murder (Genesis 4:3-8). Another example appears later in Genesis, where Jacob exploits Esau's hunger by trading a bowl of stew for Esau's birthright, showcasing greed and opportunism in securing something of great value at a low cost (Genesis 25:29-34). Similarly, with the help of his mother Rebekah, Jacob further schemes to receive the blessing meant for Esau, emphasizing his pursuit of personal advantage (Genesis 27:1-29).
While temptations have persisted through history and there is "nothing new under the sun," God's promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13 offers hope: "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
Just as the human experience of temptation remains unchanged, so too does God's provision of deliverance. These repeated struggles—such as ego, greed, and jealousy—remind us that we are not alone and others have faced the same challenges before us. Despite the constancy of temptation, God’s faithfulness has not wavered.
Christ’s sacrifice made redemption and victory over sin possible in the ultimate act of deliverance. Where Adam and Eve succumbed to the serpent’s temptation, Jesus conquered temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Through His death and resurrection, He bore the penalty for our sins, giving us freedom and the strength to resist temptations.
The Holy Spirit dwells within believers, empowering us to overcome temptation. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit as our Helper, guiding us toward truth and conviction (John 14:16-17). When faced with challenges that echo humanity’s age-old struggles, the Spirit reminds us of God’s Word and leads us to the "way out" God provides.
Temptations may repeat across generations, taking familiar shapes like ego, greed, jealousy, and more. Yet deliverance is always at hand through God’s faithfulness, Christ’s sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit’s presence. While “nothing new” may exist in temptations, there is something eternally new: the transforming power of God’s grace in our lives.
Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness and the strength You provide in times of temptation. We find deliverance and hope through Christ's sacrifice and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Help us to trust in You and walk in Your grace each day. In the name of Jesus, our deliverer and intercessor, we pray, Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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