Snake Salvation

[Huggy Bear]

In other words, if you happen to get bitten by accident, like Paul did for example, that scripture applies. But the Bible also clearly states not to "test" God.

Mybold

The trouble with this is that the holy writ doesn't specify what constitutes a "test."
Is it to demand a specific vision/outcome/event?
Or can a test be anything the result of which confirms the existence of God? e.g. babble fish.
Keep it vague and you can square any event as being confirmation of God.
This is the same non-specificity that protects prayer from dis-confirmation as the answer yes/no/wait covers all cases.

The simple explanation is a "test" is essentially trying to force God to do something whether it is his will or not.

Jesus for example had the power to raise the dead, why not raise everyone from the dead then? Because Jesus only did what he was told to do by God (John 5:19). If Jesus had gone around raising whoever he wanted from the dead, that would be testing God.
God granted those powers to the church for emergency type situations, not to show off.

Keep in mind that the word is "Tempt" in the KJV as in to "provoke" God or "test" his patience.

Is it to demand a specific vision/outcome/event?

Asking God for something will not provoke him, demanding it will.

Another example is Moses, whom God told to speak to the rock to recieve water, but instead he struck the rock with his staff (showing off) and "provoked" God.(numbers 20:8)