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be a denial of faith, they are taking an unwise position. This is not a
denial of faith; it is in strict harmony with the plans of God.
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When Hezekiah was sick, the prophet of God brought him the
message that he should die. He cried unto the Lord, and the Lord
heard His servant and worked a miracle in his behalf, sending him a
message that fifteen years should be added to his life. Now one word
from God, one touch of the divine finger, would have cured Hezekiah
instantly, but special directions were given to take a fig and lay it
upon the affected part, and Hezekiah was raised to life. In everything
we need to move along the line of God’s providence.—HPMMW 54,
1892. (
Counsels on Health, 381, 382
.)
A Disposition to Cause Pain Is Satanic—It is because of man’s
sin that “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together”
(
Romans 8:22
). Suffering and death were thus entailed, not only upon
the human race, but upon the animals. Surely, then, it becomes man to
seek to lighten, instead of increasing, the weight of suffering which his
transgression has brought upon God’s creatures. He who will abuse
animals because he has them in his power is both a coward and a
tyrant.
A disposition to cause pain, whether to our fellowmen or to the
brute creation, is satanic. Many do not realize that their cruelty will
ever be known, because the poor dumb animals cannot reveal it. But
could the eyes of these men be opened, as were those of Balaam, they
would see an angel of God standing as a witness to testify against them
in the courts above. A record goes up to heaven, and a day is coming
when judgment will be pronounced against those who abuse God’s
creatures.—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 443
(1890).
Do Not Cause Deeper Pain—Oh, let no word be spoken to cause
deeper pain! To the soul weary of a life of sin, but knowing not where
to find relief, present the compassionate Saviour. Take him by the
hand, lift him up, speak to him words of courage and hope. Help him to
grasp the hand of the Saviour.—
The Ministry of Healing, 168
(1905).
Christ’s Anguish Greater Than Bodily Pain—But bodily pain
was but a small part of the agony of God’s dear Son. The sins of the
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world were upon Him, also the sense of His Father’s wrath as He
suffered the penalty of the law transgressed. It was these that crushed
His divine soul. It was the hiding of His Father’s face—a sense that
His own dear Father had forsaken Him—which brought despair.