Just As He Said

A Sure and Certain Hope

“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyesā€”I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
Job 19 25-27

Unimaginable tragedy in this life happens. Sometimes, it happens quickly; other times, it is a long and arduous journey of pain and suffering. At these times, our merciful God has graciously given the body of Christ, his Word, to sustain us.

Job is an Old Testament character who surfaces during conversations about earthly tragedy. This portion of Scripture consoles us in our afflictions through his unimaginably tragic story. God permitted Satan, the prince of this world, to inflict unspeakable pain upon Job, sparing only his life. We learn how blameless and upright Job was in the face of his tragedies. We read and recite his response to his circumstances: ā€œThe LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.ā€ (Job 1:21)

The story compounds; the tragedies and circumstances surrounding Job persist. Beyond the blow of taking away his children, his sheep, his servants, his camels, and his health, Job is subjected to three rounds of discourses and four speeches from his friends. They admonish him, analyzing why God permitted calamity after calamity to come his way. Yet, Job shows us how his ā€œgracious God sustains himā€¦giving voice to the living hope of Godā€™s childrenā€ * in the verses for today.

The writerā€™s pen (the author of Job is unknown) weaves a perfect story so that ā€œeverything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hopeā€ (Romans 15:4).

What is this hope that Paul is referring to? It is the Messiah, the same hope that sustained our brother Job. His story is one of the Old Testament prophecies that point to our Savior Jesus. ā€œI know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.ā€ Job was broken down to nothing, literally had nothing, felt like nothing, but knew he had it allā€”because of Jesus.

ā€œAnd after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God, I myself will see him with my own eyesā€”I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!ā€ His God would be the One who would conquer death. ā€œJob was saying not only that the Redeemer was living even then, and therefore was the eternal, divine Messiah, but also that he could give life to others.ā€** Jesus would come to earth and suffer unimaginable tragedy on the cross. But he would also rise from the grave and conquer death forever. Not just for himself, not just for Job, but for every believer on this earthā€”and that includes you!

ā€œFor God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal lifeā€ (John 3:16). This is the Gospel message filled with joy, hope, and eternal life for youā€”this Advent season and forever!


* Franzmann, Werner H. Bible History Commentary: Old Testament. (Milwaukee, WI Northwestern Publishing, 2000) 425

** Ibid

Prayer:

Jesus Christ, my sure defense and my Savior, now is living! Knowing this, my confidence rests upon the hope heā€™s giving, though the night of death be fraught still with many anxious thought. I am flesh and must return unto dust, whence I am taken; but by faith I now discern that from death I shall awaken with my Savior to abide in his glory, at his side. (Christian Worship, #446).

Written by Lou Ann Mokwa
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry