Let's Not Forget the Endurance of Job

 

Job was a blameless and upright man who lived in patriarchal times.  He has been identified as the grandson of Jacob, who was also called Israel.

God allowed Satan to test Job's faith and despite losing seven sons and three daughters, all his possessions, and being smitten with boils from head to toe, he remained steadfast and kept his faith.  In the end, Job professed, "I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."  And the Lord blessed Job with seven more sons and three more daughters and his daughters were the fairest in all the land.  He also restored Job's health and doubled his possessions; and Job lived another 140 years and died an old man, full of days.

The Apostle Paul explains, "Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgements and unfathomable His ways!  For who has known the mind of the Lord?"

And again, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  But resist him, firm in your faith.  And after you have suffered for a little, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you."