For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God . . . ~ Job 19:25-26 The word “redeemer” or goel, speaks of one who can set free, purchase back, recoup what has been lost. In chapter 9, Job said, “I wish I had a daysman” (see verse 33). In chapter 16, he said, “I wish I had an advocate” (see verse 19). Here in chapter 19, he says, “I know I have a Redeemer.” An increasingly clear and powerful revelation takes place as Job’s tribulation continues. That’s the way it works in spiritual life. Job is confused, but there are fantastic revelations that come his way in the midst of his personal tribulation - and that’s what we will discover as well. In the time of tribulation, there is inevitably grand and glorious revelation of who our Lord is. From Genesis through Revelation, we see this theme over and over again. Whenever God’s people go through tribulation and difficulty, testing and trial, they inevitably receive fresh understanding and revelation concerning the nature, the character, and the reality of our Lord. We see not only revelation, but redirection. That is, when Job was at the bottom, he started thinking about eternity in a way he perhaps never would have had everything remained comfortable. I’m convinced that prosperity is a far greater problem for us than persecution is because when we’re prosperous, we tend not to think about eternity or Heaven. We start living for this life. So, in His goodness, the Lord says to us, “In order to get you thinking about Heaven - where you’re going to spend the next gazillion years - to get your focus off of the football game, your backyard, or your car, I will send challenges, trials, and difficulties your way. When you’re at the bottom the only place you can look is up.” Tensions in relationships, setbacks in business, debilitating illnesses all make us long for Heaven. That’s why the Lord allows them to come into our lives. Without them, we would be too rooted in a world that is passing away. And God loves us too much for that. Job would have greater understanding of who God is and a greater hope for the future solely because of his losses and difficulties. “In my flesh, I will see God,” he declares. “This is not the end of the road for me.” ~ Jon Courson
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 15:39:40 +0000
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