Putting God to the test

The Ten Commandments do not forbid putting God to the test. This is an embarrassing loophole. So, we find such a law in Deuteronomy.
You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah (Deuteronomy 6:16).
When Satan challenged Jesus to jump down from the top of the Temple, Jesus resisted the temptaion with the above verse (Matthew 4:7, Luke 4:12). Was there any similarity between the two situations? Not quite.

In the wilderness, the Israelites complained about the lack of water. They found fault with Moses, blaming him for the lack of leadership by camping at Rephidim where there was no water supply.
All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink.
Therefore the people found fault with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you find fault with me? Why do you put the LORD to the proof?" (Exodus 17:1-2)
Why did Moses deem it as putting God to the test? Moses had direct communication with God and knew that God would provide. The Israelites did not had direct contact with God. They relied on Moses as their mediator. But they were not satisfied with the leadership of Moses. In some other occasions, some of them even conspired a coup d'état to strip Moses of his power. So, they found fault with Moses and could not wait for God's providence. It was directed against Moses. Yet, Moses saw himself the sole representative of God and thus labelled the complaint a temptation of God. They were finding fault with God.
In the temptation of Jesus, the situation was different. While the Israelites were led into a passive position, Jesus' situation was active. The Israelites camped at Rephidim according to the commandment of God. They were passive, waiting for God's providence. Had they not complained, sooner or later, God would have provided the water they needed. But Satan created a situation to put God to the test. Had Jesus succumbed to the temptation, Satan would have forced God's hand to intervene.

In the Elijah story today, had Eljiah ever thought that he had put God to the test?
Three years of drought had passed, Elijah returned to challenge the 450 prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel.
Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table (1 Kings 18:19)
Elijah forced the people to decide which deity they should worship, Baal or Yahweh.
And Elijah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word (1 Kings 18:21).
The people did not answer Elijah. Assuming that they were politically forced to worship Baal, their reticence was understandable. But if they wanted to worship Yahweh, why did they not speak up? The people needed proof, tangible irrefutable proof.
So, Elijah proposed such a proof. The 450 prophets would offer sacrifice to Baal and Elijah to Yahweh in front of the people.
And you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken." (1 Kings 18:24)
Elijah had proposed a tangible procedure to prove the existence of God. This is a proof scientists, philosophers and theologians have been dreaming for throughout the ages. Elijah was putting God to the test.
Why should God submit to such a game? Did God submit in order to convince the Israelites to believe in Him again?
Whatever God's motive, I don't like this game because it sets a bad precedent. If God yielded to man's demand this time, He is not morally justified to refuse other demands in the future. But had not Jesus refused to perform miracles in front of the Pharisees to prove that he was sent by God?
I am not Yahweh. Yahweh played along with them for reasons I may never understand.
And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God."
And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape." And they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there (1 Kings 18:39-40).
Elijah's story ended in God's victory. 450 prophets of Baal were slaughtered by the Israelites with the instigation of Elijah. But the kingdom of Israel continued to worship Baal under King Ahab. God won a battle but not the war against idolatry. Elijah's story continues to circulate in the psyche of the Israelites. He is a man of God.

Dear Lord, I count myself blessed to be able to hold on my faith in You. Help me resist the temptation of putting You to the test. Amen.