"I Know that My Redeemer Lives"

Today I have meditated on Job chapters 19, 20 and 21. The verses that really caught my attention were in Job 19: [23-27]. Through this passage I have learned alot about Jobs faith. Considering everything he went through Job makes an astounding confession of faith in verse 25a, he says, "For I know that my redeemer lives." Wow what a confession!!!! Even at the point of his heaviest destress his faith was at its greatest by confirming that God was his Redeemer.

Job 19: [24-27]--"Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! That they were engraved on a rock With an iron pen and lead, forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

Job wanted his confidence in God recorded so that all would know that even in the midst of his suffering he had not sinned against God. "Job had no hope left for his life, but was confident that "after" he was dead, His Redeemer would vindicate him in the glory of a physical resurrection in which he would enjoy perfect fellowship with the Redeemer."--John MacArthur

The foundation of Jobs hope was in the Redeemer. Even though Job was overwhelmed by his circumstances he keeps his eyes focused on Gods words. I believe the foundation and focus of Jobs life was the word of God. The truth of his confession is clearly the message of the gospel because Jesus Christ is the Redeemer. John 11:25--"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live."

In this passage Job gives us at least three truths about our Redeemer.

1. Our Redeemer is God Almighty.

Job recognized that his redemption was not going to come from man but solely from God Himself. Jobs so called friends were trying to convience him that only bad things happen to those that have sinned, which just is not true. Job nor his friends could rationalize why job had to suffer after all he was a good man and only good things happen to good people, so they thought. His friends only conclusion was that Job had sinned against God. What they did not realize is that they did not need to understand the things that were happening to Job they just needed to trust in the Redeemer as Job did. Jobs life was a living testimony to his friends of God's mercy and grace. Jobs confession proved to his friends that God is the one and only true Redeemer. Wow!!!! , even in this story Job is presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to his friends in the midst of his sufferings.

2. Our Redeemer is Personal.

In Job 19:25a--,He says, "I know that my Redeemer lives", Job knew that his Redeemer was a Personal God. Job knew just as we all do that God never leaves us but is ever with us. He is, "God with us." He promises to be with us and give us rest. Matthew 11:28--"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." We cannot rest in God enless we have a personal relationship with Him. God doesn't need us we need Him. Although Job could not see God, he knew his Redeemer lived. The foundation of our faith is to believe and know that our Redeemer lives and is faithful and true to His word.

3. Our Redeemer is a living Redeemer.

Job was confident that Jesus Christ his Savior was Alive. Job 19: [25b-27]--" And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

Christ died and rose again on the third day and then ascended to heaven and is sitting at the right hand of the throne of God proving that He is risen and lives!!!!! I believe Jobs only hope was that when he died he would get to see his Savior face to face. I believe Jobs heart longed to see Christ. Jesus came to this earth to die and raise again from the dead the third day that we may have life. He died that we may be forgiven of our sins and on the last day be raised up because we are dead in Christ and then given eternal life that we may live forever in His presence and glorify his name.

I praise God for these wounderful truths about Christ that are in this story of Job found in the Old Testament. What a wounderful picture of Christ we see here. What a glorious day that will be when we see our Redeemer face to face. Are you living your life in light of the fact that you serve a living Redeemer?

Serving Our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison