I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. Job 19:25-26 (Job 9-21)
Job and his three friends enter into a great debate. Job insists he is not wicked and on several occasions, declares his righteousness to both his sages and God. However, his theology, bad things only happen to bad people, doesn’t square with his reality and the agony is bitter!
Evil people experiencing no visible evidence of God’s judgement or wrath while righteous Job’s pain and loss are excruciating, is noted. Job adds, he could accuse the same friends that hold him guilty of unseen, unspoken, yet ‘obvious’ transgressions, of worse sin than any possible wrong doing on his part. His sarcasm doesn’t set well and he finds himself completely alone. Chapter 19:13-19 lists all those who have abandoned him. Still, Job defends his righteousness and asserts, God sees him as he truly is.
Then! Job’s heartbroken, at times sarcastic, defense becomes faith! Not his old faith, but new and improved with clarity and definition. I KNOW my Redeemer, the one who sacrifices for man’s soul, lives and therefore, I too will live. (ARE YOU LISTENING SATAN?) Job finds hope, born of a faith that didn’t die of natural causes, and begins to understand an everlasting life.
From his primitive understanding of a Creator God and misunderstood justice comes a story of faith with a ‘no matter what’ endurance. When you have this, you have everything!
Love,
Gretchen