ring God andavoiding evil?” But Satan answered the LORD and said, “Is it for nothing thatJob is God fearing? Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that hehas with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands and hislivestock are spread over the land. But put forth your hand and touch anythingthat he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face.” And the LORD saidto Satan, “Behold all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand upon hisperson.” So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:6-12)Christian tradition shows an ever lasting conflict between good and evil, God and hisangels versus Satan and his angels. The Gospels show Jesus holding back the evil one, fightingfor the redemption of man, paying his debts and answering for his sins. Time after time Jesus isshown defeating Satan by forgiving sins, casting out demons, and even battling with the silvertongued Lucifer himself in a manner that reflects Jesus’ many confrontations with the scribes . Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Hefasted for forty days and forty nights and afterwards he was hungry. The tempterapproached and said to him, “If you are the son of God, command that thesestones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written‘One does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes forth fromthe mouth of God.’Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of thetemple, and said to him, “If you are the son of God, throw yourself down. For it iswritten:‘He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands theywill support you lest you dash your foot against a stone.’Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the LORD your Godto the test’ “ The devil took him to a very high mountain , and showed...
