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THE ANCIENT LIE

    In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. [2] He had seven sons and three daughters, [3] and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
    [4] His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. [5] When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.
    [6] One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. [7] The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
    Satan answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
    [8] Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
    [9] "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. [10] "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. [11] But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."
    [12] The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."
    Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
    [13] One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, [14] a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, [15] and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
    [16] While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
    [17] While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
    [18] While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, [19] when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
    [20] At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship [21] and said:

    "Naked I came from my mother's womb,
        and naked I will depart.
    The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
        may the name of the Lord be praised."
 
    [22] In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. _^[NIV]

    On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. [2] And the Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
    Satan answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
    [3] Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."
    [4] "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. [5] But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."
    [6] The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."
    [7] So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. [8] Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
    [9] His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"
    [10] He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"
    In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
    [11] When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. [12] When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. [13] Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was. _^[NIV]

    Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. [2] After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. [3] The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
    [4] Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
    [5] Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. [6] "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:

    " 'He will command his angels concerning you,
        and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
 
    [7] Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
    [8] Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. [9] "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
    [10] Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" _^[NIV]

THE TRUTH ABOUT PAIN & SUFFERING

    Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- _^[NIV]

    Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. [21] Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so. _^[NIV]

THREE STRANGE
(BUT POWERFUL) RESPONSES

  A Strange Attitude: Rejoice.

    Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. _^[NIV]

    Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. _^[NIV]

    Be joyful always; [17] pray continually; [18] give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. _^[NIV]

    And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel.   [11] These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. _^[NIV]

    Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. _^[NIV]

  A Strange Response: Embrace The Benefits.

    because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. [4] Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. _^[NIV]

    Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. _^[NIV]

    During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. [8] Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered  _^[NIV]

    In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. _^[NIV]

    Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
        for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
    [11] "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. [12] Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. _^[NIV]

    Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. [5] For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. [6] If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. _^[NIV]

  A Strange Prayer: Lord, give me wisdom.

    If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. _^[NIV]

    Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
    [40] Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. [41] "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
    [42] He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
    [43] When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. [44] So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. _^[NIV]