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The Righteousness and Loss of Job - The Book of Job · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: Let us pray. Then Job arose and rent his mantle
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  Speaker 1: and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground
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  Speaker 1: and worshipped. Job 1.20 Dear God, when my character is
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  Speaker 1: tested like Job, I thank you that my heart and
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  Speaker 1: character will be proven to be sincere and true. When
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  Speaker 1: troubles come upon me, I will not cower and walk
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  Speaker 1: away from you, God. Instead, I will press in more,
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  Speaker 1: knowing that you are the source of my joy. In
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  Speaker 1: seasons of unrelenting blows, I will lift my hands and
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  Speaker 1: voice to the heavens. I will declare of your goodness,
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  Speaker 1: even when it doesn't make sense, because I know that
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  Speaker 1: all things are working together for my good. Satan, I
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  Speaker 1: serve notice that you will not rob me of my joy.
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  Speaker 1: You will not have my peace, because I know that
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  Speaker 1: my day of victory and vindication draws near. I trust you, God,
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  Speaker 1: even when I don't understand you. I will choose to
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  Speaker 1: put my faith and trust in you. In Jesus' name.
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  Speaker 2: Amen.
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  Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with us today. Continue your time
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  Speaker 1: with God. by listening to today's Bible story, brought to
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  Speaker 1: you by BibleInAYear.com.
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  Speaker 3: The Righteousness and Loss of Job In this story, we
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  Speaker 3: dive into the poetic story of Job. We learn about
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  Speaker 3: the cosmic dialogue between God and the enemy and God
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  Speaker 3: boasts of the righteousness of a man named Job. Job
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  Speaker 3: was a man of pure heart and noble intention. He
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  Speaker 3: walked blameless before God and his family. His character would
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  Speaker 3: soon be tested to prove to all mankind that it
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  Speaker 3: is possible to persevere despite gargantuan loss, inspired by the
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  Speaker 3: book of Job.
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  Speaker 2: Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of The Bible
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  Speaker 2: in a Year. Previously, we heard about the final days
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  Speaker 2: of Joshua's life and how God blessed Israel with peace
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  Speaker 2: and many victories in battle, and gave them an ever-expanding
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  Speaker 2: share of the land that God had promised, the land
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  Speaker 2: of Cana, the promised land. Today, we dive into the
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  Speaker 2: story of Job. The story of Job is one of
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  Speaker 2: God's faithfulness even in the face of the greatest adversity imaginable.
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  Speaker 2: As we begin today, we'll hear the dialogue between God
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  Speaker 2: and the accuser, Satan, who challenges God to allow Job
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  Speaker 2: to be tested to see if he will remain true
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  Speaker 2: and righteous and faithful. The message of Job has so
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  Speaker 2: much to teach us about the sovereignty of God and
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  Speaker 2: his ability to be steadfast and true no matter what
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  Speaker 2: pain comes our way. So let's begin with today's reading.
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  Speaker 3: The ancient land of Uz was a blossoming and blessed country.
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  Speaker 3: Before the ages of kings and conquests, a man named
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  Speaker 3: Job dwelled in the land peacefully with his family. Job
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  Speaker 3: was a man of noble character and pure heart. He
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  Speaker 3: was wise in all his dealings and raised his family
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  Speaker 3: with love, affection, and devotion. He lived in Uz with
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  Speaker 3: his wife, seven sons, and three daughters. Together with his
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  Speaker 3: servants they cared for his 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 oxen,
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  Speaker 3: and 500 donkeys. Each night the family would hold a
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  Speaker 3: feast and laugh with each other in joy. Job was
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  Speaker 3: a truly blessed man and made sacrifices for his family
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  Speaker 3: every morning. Job would continually seek God in the cool
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  Speaker 3: of the morning, and the two of them were close
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  Speaker 3: in all his ways. In a different form of space
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  Speaker 3: and time, near the shining presence of the Almighty, the accuser, Satan,
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  Speaker 3: appeared before the Lord. From where have you come? God asked.
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  Speaker 3: The two did not stand as equals. Satan was allowed
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  Speaker 3: to live, but only under the permission of God. I
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  Speaker 3: have traveled to and fro on the earth, seeking who
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  Speaker 3: may be led astray, Satan said. His tone was slithery,
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  Speaker 3: and his countenance was bitter. He looked at God with
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  Speaker 3: equal reverence and hatred. The Lord spoke, saying, Have you
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  Speaker 3: seen my servant Job? There is none like him. He
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  Speaker 3: fears me, turns away from evil, and walks blamelessly before
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  Speaker 3: his peers. God's voice was elated with pride as he
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  Speaker 3: spoke of his beloved Job. It made Satan writhe where
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  Speaker 3: he stood. You coddled Job like an infant, Satan snapped.
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  Speaker 3: There is a hedge of protection over him miles wide.
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  Speaker 3: You blessed his work, his possessions, and his family. Take
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  Speaker 3: it away from him, and I promise he will curse you.
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  Speaker 3: God's confidence in Job was unwavering. Do what you will
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  Speaker 3: to him. I give you permission. Only do not harm him.
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  Speaker 3: So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord to
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  Speaker 3: descend upon Job like a whirlwind. The day was drawing
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  Speaker 3: to a close, and the sun was setting over the
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  Speaker 3: land of Uz. The warm summer breeze trickled in through
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  Speaker 3: the home of Job's oldest son. The entire family was
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  Speaker 3: eating together, enjoying music and laughter. The revelry continued, and
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  Speaker 3: the sound of instruments and conversation drowned out the noise
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  Speaker 3: of plunder happening a few hundred yards away. In Job's fields,
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  Speaker 3: a neighboring village swooped in and raided the livestock and
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  Speaker 3: killed the servants with the edge of their swords. The
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  Speaker 3: bellows of stolen livestock and swords being driven through servants'
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  Speaker 3: chests were drowned out by Job's laughter. A servant came
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  Speaker 3: to tell Job of all that was taking place, so
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  Speaker 3: Job left with his servant to go to the barn.
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  Speaker 3: As they were running, another servant came and said, The
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  Speaker 3: fire of God fell from heaven. Your sheep and servants
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  Speaker 3: were consumed in the pasture by a great wildfire. Job's
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  Speaker 3: mind was beginning to unravel. He began to run towards
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  Speaker 3: the pastures, where he heard a clamoring in the distance.
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  Speaker 3: My lord, one of his servants yelled. The servant was
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  Speaker 3: running from the western edge of Job's property. He fell
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  Speaker 3: at Job's feet out of breath, saying, The Chaldeans are here.
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  Speaker 3: They have made a raid on your camels. I am
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  Speaker 3: the only servant to survive. What is happening, Job thought
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  Speaker 3: to himself. He paused for a moment, and the eastern
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  Speaker 3: winds began to rage. Job could barely stand upright. The
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  Speaker 3: wind howled violently, and Job and his servants ducked for
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  Speaker 3: cover under a crack in the hill near the pastures.
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  Speaker 3: Job heard a mighty crash in the distance, followed by screaming. Then,
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  Speaker 3: just as quickly as the wind had come, it vanished.
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  Speaker 3: Job could hear one single faint scream in the distance.
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  Speaker 3: He and his servants looked up from under the rocks
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  Speaker 3: to see another servant running towards them. Job knew in
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  Speaker 3: his heart what the man was going to say. Job
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  Speaker 3: fell to his knees as the servant grew closer. Everything
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  Speaker 3: slowed down for a moment. The servant's voice was muffled
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  Speaker 3: in his ear.' Lord!' Job did not respond.' My lord!'
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  Speaker 3: the servant yelled again. Job looked up.' A great wind
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  Speaker 3: just came in from the wilderness. It must have toppled
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  Speaker 3: a beam in your son's house. I am sorry, but
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  Speaker 3: they are all gone.' Job did not respond to his servant. Instead,
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  Speaker 3: He walked away back towards his home. He walked a
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  Speaker 3: few hundred yards, then fell onto his knees again. Job's
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  Speaker 3: tears released like a dam breaking. He yelled, tore his shirt,
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  Speaker 3: and drove his face into the ground. Job was weeping,
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  Speaker 3: but there was no bitterness behind his tears. His face
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  Speaker 3: lifted towards heaven as he said, I came to this
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  Speaker 3: world with nothing. Naked, Naked I shall return. The Lord gave,
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  Speaker 3: and now the Lord has taken away. Blessed be your
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  Speaker 3: mighty name, O God. Job stretched his arms to heaven.
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  Speaker 3: His tears streamed down his face as he praised God.
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  Speaker 3: Job's wife watched him from a distance from their home,
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  Speaker 3: stewing in grief and bitterness. She hated him.
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  Speaker 1: For his joy.
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  Speaker 3: Job's joy was complete in God. However, he was not
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  Speaker 3: without grief. Job felt the loss deeply, and his heart
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  Speaker 3: was shattered into millions of pieces. The next day, Job
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  Speaker 3: stood over the wreckage of his children. Ash from the
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  Speaker 3: burnt fields made the sky dark. His family, riches, and
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  Speaker 3: property was destroyed. Dried tears and dirt caked his face
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  Speaker 3: as he stared at his dead children. Job resolved in
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  Speaker 3: his heart to not blame God, rather press into Him.
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  Speaker 3: His faith would be tested even further.
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  Speaker 2: We open our reading today in God's Word in a
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  Speaker 2: place called us, and we meet a man by the
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  Speaker 2: name of Job. He is the patriarch of a great
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  Speaker 2: and wealthy family, and he has lived righteously before the Lord,
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  Speaker 2: and God has blessed him immensely. The riches and blessings
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  Speaker 2: upon his life was a clear sign of God's favor
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  Speaker 2: and blessing upon him. Job was a devoted husband, a
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  Speaker 2: loving father, and a godly leader in his family and
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  Speaker 2: in the community. He led his family in life and
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  Speaker 2: in the worship of God offering sacrifices as a priest
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  Speaker 2: for his own family. His devoutness and closeness to God
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  Speaker 2: was visible to all. He knew God well, and yes,
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  Speaker 2: God knew him by name. So here's the story. It happened.
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  Speaker 2: One day, Satan, the accuser of the brothers, appears before God.
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  Speaker 2: We often think of Satan as being banished from God's presence,
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  Speaker 2: but God may allow Satan to come near him at
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  Speaker 2: his own request. We also know that Satan is not
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  Speaker 2: banished to hell in this epoch of history, but rather
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  Speaker 2: he is alive and well and living on planet earth.
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  Speaker 2: As Satan and God converse, God brings up Job, his servant,
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  Speaker 2: his righteous service, a man that fears God and turns
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  Speaker 2: away from evil. But Satan, the accuser, claims that Job
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  Speaker 2: only fears God because God has blessed him. God has
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  Speaker 2: given him everything. And that's why he loves God. He
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  Speaker 2: is so bold, Satan is, to challenge God, saying, if
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  Speaker 2: you took everything away from him, he would curse God.
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  Speaker 2: God knows that Job's faithfulness is real. So he gives
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  Speaker 2: Satan permission to do as he will with Job. There
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  Speaker 2: was one condition, and that he leave the man himself alone.
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  Speaker 2: But beyond that, He could attack Job. Satan leaves intent
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  Speaker 2: on embarrassing God and destroying his most favorite servant. Job
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  Speaker 2: has no idea what is about to happen. And then,
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  Speaker 2: out of nowhere it seems, Job's world crumbles beneath his feet.
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  Speaker 2: Servants run to Job from every corner of his property
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  Speaker 2: and speak of one tragedy after another. His livestock, his servants, property,
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  Speaker 2: all destroyed or taken away. Then the greatest tragedy of
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  Speaker 2: all comes. His own children, all ten of them, have died.
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  Speaker 2: Job responds, like you and me, with an outward emotional
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  Speaker 2: display of intense grief. He tears at his clothing. He
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  Speaker 2: shaves his head. He is broken. A man who seemingly
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  Speaker 2: has lost nearly everything in the span of one single
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  Speaker 2: terrible day. But then I want you to see what
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  Speaker 2: Job says next. In chapter 1 of the book of Job,
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  Speaker 2: verses 20 and 21. He fell on the ground and worshiped.
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  Speaker 2: And he said, naked I came from my mother's womb
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  Speaker 2: and naked shall I return. The Lord gave and the
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  Speaker 2: Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
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  Speaker 2: What a testimony. Whatever happens, blessed be the name of
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  Speaker 2: the Lord. The story of Job is a difficult one
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  Speaker 2: to understand at times, but in the midst of his tragedy,
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  Speaker 2: he exhibited the most extreme kind of faith. It's the
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  Speaker 2: testimony of a man who knew that God is sovereign
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  Speaker 2: over all things and can be trusted no matter what.
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  Speaker 2: Job's first response was one of intense grief and sadness,
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  Speaker 2: and yet in the midst of all the tears, he
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  Speaker 2: worshiped God. He looked to God for strength. God had
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  Speaker 2: given him everything he had. God could choose to take
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  Speaker 2: it away, and he has. But in the midst of it,
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  Speaker 2: he praised God. It shows that Job's love for God
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  Speaker 2: wasn't dependent upon the things that he had, his possessions,
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  Speaker 2: or his blessings, but his love for God, his faith
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  Speaker 2: in God, was true and steadfast. Dear God, may we,
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  Speaker 2: like Job, worship you in every circumstance of life. Through
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  Speaker 2: the tears of tragedy or through the joys of success,
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  Speaker 2: we know that you are worthy of all praise and
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  Speaker 2: all honor and all blessing. We can say, no matter
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  Speaker 2: what we face, blessed be the name of the Lord.
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  Speaker 2: And it is in this name that is above every name,
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  Speaker 2: the name of Jesus, that we pray. Amen. Thank you
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  Speaker 2: for listening today to the Bible in a Year podcast.
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  Speaker 2: I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church.
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  Speaker 2: Download the Pray.com app and make prayer a priority in
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  Speaker 2: your life. And if you enjoy this podcast, share it
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  Speaker 2: in someone's life. If you want more resources on how
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  Speaker 2: to tap into the power of Jesus Christ in your life,
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  Speaker 2: then be sure to visit JackGraham.org.