James 1:13 asserts that "God cannot be tempted by evil," while Exodus 17:2 (and other Old Testament verses) describes the Israelites "tempting" or "testing" God in the wilderness.

This is a linguistic nuance rather than a theological contradiction. The English word "tempt" translates different concepts depending on the context:

• Enticement to Sin (James 1:13): James is teaching that God is perfectly holy and self-sufficient. He cannot be enticed, lured, or seduced into committing evil. His nature is entirely free from the passions of sin.
• Testing God's Patience (Exodus 17:2): In the wilderness, the Israelites "tempted" the Lord by challenging His providence, demanding miracles, and testing His patience through their lack of faith. They were not trying to lure God into committing a moral sin; they were foolishly putting His covenant loyalty to the test.

God cannot be drawn toward evil, but humans can arrogantly test His long-suffering mercy.