IN SORROW I LOOK TO MY REDEEMER!
IN SORROW I LOOK TO MY REDEEMER!
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God. —Job 19:25-26
In the midst of his loss, pain, sorrow and lack of support, Job focused on the Hope that he had.
- He had a Redeemer
- His Redeemer lives
- His Redeemer would be seen in the last days
- His Redeemer would stand upon the earth in the last days
- His body would be destroyed
- His body anew would see God
This Hope is what sustains Job and is also God’s proof that Job is a righteous and blameless man because He believes in God and does not allow the loss of all he has to erode that faith. Though Job did not understand everything clearly, and is absolutely wrong in his assessment of his situation— he still believed!
If you and I lose all we have, will we still believe? Will we still look to our Redeemer? Will our hope be in the future with Him? Will that Hope of seeing Him keep us going? Will we believe if all earthly possessions are gone? Is our relationship with our Redeemer enough?
Satan said to our Lord— “But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face” (Job 1:11). Our Lord replied— “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” And yet when Satan attacked and destroyed Job’s oxen, donkeys and servants, sheep and servants, camels and servants and then killed his sons and daughters—
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (Job 1:20-22).
But when Job did not curse God for his misfortune, Satan said to our Lord, “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face” (Job 2:4-5). Our Lord responded, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life” (Job 2:6).
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said” (Job 2:7-10).
Satan took everything from Job except his life. Even his wife encouraged him to say what Satan wanted him to say— “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” But Job was hanging on to his integrity. The loss of everything was not going to change that— even the loss of his wife’s support. His ultimate hope was in His Redeemer— not in his possessions, not in his health and not even in the support of his closest relationships. No, Job’s Hope was his Redeemer! Can we say that?
Dear Father, I thank You for my Redeemer, Jesus. May I live faithfully for Him by His authority and by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Yes, may it be so for Your honor and glory, my benefit and for the benefit of many others! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkLuZxqPPzE