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Selected Messages Book 1
fallen in the wilderness. They would have been established in the
goodly land of Canaan a holy, healthy people, with not a feeble one in
all their tribes.
The Saviour of the world became sin for the race. In becoming
man’s substitute, Christ did not manifest His power as the Son of
God. He ranked Himself among the sons of men. He was to bear the
trial of temptation as a man, in man’s behalf, under the most trying
circumstances, and leave an example of faith and perfect trust in His
heavenly Father. Christ knew that His Father would supply Him food
when it would gratify Him to do so. He would not in this severe ordeal,
when hunger pressed Him beyond measure, prematurely diminish one
particle of the trial allotted to Him be exercising His divine power.
Fallen man, when brought into straightened places, could not have
the power to work miracles on his own behalf, to save himself from
pain or anguish, or to give himself victory over his enemies. It was the
purpose of God to test and prove the race, and give them an opportunity
to develop character by bringing them frequently into trying positions
to test their faith and confidence in His love and power. The life of
Christ was a perfect pattern. He was ever, by His example and precept,
teaching man that God was his dependence, and that in God should be
his faith and firm trust.
Christ knew that Satan was a liar from the beginning, and it re-
quired strong self-control to listen to the propositions of this insulting
deceiver, and not instantly rebuke his bold assumptions. Satan ex-
pected to provoke the Son of God to engage in controversy with him;
and he hoped that thus, in His extreme weakness and agony of spirit,
he could obtain advantage over Him. He designed to pervert the words
of Christ and claim advantage, and call to his aid his fallen angels to
use their utmost power to prevail against and overcome Him.
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The Saviour of the world had no controversy with Satan, who was
expelled from heaven because he was no longer worthy of a place
there. He who could influence the angels of God against their Supreme
Ruler, and against His Son, their loved commander, and enlist their
sympathy for himself, was capable of any deception. Four thousand
years he had been warring against the government of God, and had
lost none of his skill or power to tempt and deceive.