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True Education
are to be workers together with Him in demonstrating it in practical
life. To choose the right because it is right, to stand for truth at the
cost of suffering and sacrifice—“this is the heritage of the servants
of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord.”
Isaiah 54:17
.
Very early in the history of the world is given the life record of
one over whom this controversy of Satan’s was waged.
Of Job the testimony of the Searcher of hearts was, “There is
none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears
God and shuns evil.” Against this man Satan brought the scornful
charge: “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a
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hedge around him, and around his household, and around all that he
has on every side? ... But stretch out Your hand now and touch all
that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
The Lord said unto Satan, “All that he has is in your power; only
do not lay a hand on his person.”
Job 1:9-12
. “Behold he is in your
hand, but spare his life.”
Job 2:6
.
Thus permitted, Satan swept away all that Job possessed—flocks
and herds, menservants and maidens, sons and daughters—and he
“struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown
of his head.”
Job 2:7
.
Still another element of bitterness was added to his cup. His
friends, seeing in adversity only the retribution of sin, pressed on his
bruised and burdened spirit their accusations of wrongdoing.
Seemingly forsaken of heaven and earth, yet holding fast his faith
in God and his consciousness of integrity, in anguish and perplexity
he cried: “My soul loathes my life.” “O that You would hide me
in the grave, that You would conceal me, until Your wrath is past,
that You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!”
Job 10:1
;
14:13
. “Even though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
Job 13:15
.
“I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last upon
the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my
flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes
shall behold, and not another.”
Job 19:25-27
. See also
Job 19:7-21
;
23:3-10
.
“When He has tested me,” Job said, “I shall come forth as gold.”
Job 23:10
. According to his faith, so it came to pass. By his patient
endurance he vindicated his own character and thus the character