Wow...still don't see where I said God tempted anyone with evil...My head is starting to hurt from this conversation. So just highlight or bold where I said that because I know I will never find it because I'm sure I would have never said that.
God took down the hedge and allowed Job to be tested. There is no way around that...
The lesson is that health, wealth, and prosperity on this earth isn't automatically guaranteed just for being righteous and faithful. So if you see someone struggling with any ailments it don't automatically mean they are sinners and being punished or they just don't have enough faith. So let's try not be like Job's friends and get rebuked by God. They were actually preaching prosperity gospel to Job, and got rebuked for it.
That's ok., We don't have to agree. I don't agree with your assessment of the story of Job. I know that God takes care of us much better than we can ever do. We will come up against trails and issues in this life and we learn to follow Jesus and not our own understanding. This is a daily process. Ailments don't mean we are out of God's will. It means we are learning as we go. Life brings trials.
When we walk our own way it's a recipe for a mess. It's a recipe for isolation., confusion., poverty and lack. Job needed an attitude adjustment and he got it. By the end of the book God restored him with more than he had before.
Trusting God for who He says He is ... that is not leaning to my own understanding. When we acknowledge Him in all our ways He WILL direct our paths. And Jesus says where our paths will go....
Psalm 23
[SUP]1 [/SUP]The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
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2 [/SUP]He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still
and restful waters.
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3 [/SUP]He refreshes
and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.
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4 [/SUP]Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.
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5 [/SUP]You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with [SUP][
a][/SUP]oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
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6 [/SUP]Surely
or only goodness, mercy,
and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.