Understanding Job’s Redeemer

I want to share with you this evening a message from the book of Job. It is a message that gives hope to each of us who are struggling with sin, whether it be the consequences of sin in this life, or the consequences of sin that we must face in the Day of Judgment. In this life we suffer from sin in one of two ways: the first way is that our own sinful nature can result in us making bad choices that lead to bad consequences; and the second way is that we can suffer from the sinful decisions of other people. The way we can suffer for sin in the Day of Judgment is that those of us who are not covered by the blood of Jesus Christ will be sentenced to spending an eternity in hell.

In the book of Job, we find that Job suffered unjustly from sin. He did not suffer for any crimes that he had committed, but he suffered the consequences of simply existing, or simply being born into this evil world. You see, the Bible tells us that Satan is the ruler of this world. The world is a sinful place, and this is Satan’s domain. Isaiah 14:12 tells us of how Lucifer was cast down out of heaven to walk this earth; and then in Job 1:7, we read, “And the Lord said to Satan, ‘From where do you come?’ So Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it’.”

Because we live in a sinful and fallen world, there will be times in our life when we will have to go through trials and difficulty. As we shall see, Job went through such a time; however, he was not alone. The message that will bring us hope this evening is the good news that we do not have to face the consequences of sin alone. We have Someone who will stare sin right in the face and boldly fight in our defense. Job knew Him as his Redeemer.

A Mediator between God and Man (Job 9:32-35; 16:19-22)

32 For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, and that we should go to court together. 33 Nor is there any mediator between us, who may lay his hand on us both. 34 Let Him take His rod away from me, and do not let dread of Him terrify me. 35 Then I would speak and not fear Him, but it is not so with me (9:32-35).

Allow me to re-read these verses in the New Living Translation, for it translates it a little clearer: “God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with Him or take Him to trial. If only there were a mediator who could bring us together, but there is none. The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of His punishment. Then I could speak to Him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.” Now, let’s look at Job 16:19-22.

19 Surely even now my witness is in heaven, and my evidence is on high. 20 My friends scorn me; my eyes pour out tears to God. Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor! 22 For when a few years are finished, I shall go the way of no return (16:19-22).

The New Living Translation says, “Even now my witness is in heaven. My advocate is there on high. My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God. Oh, that someone would mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends. For soon I must go down that road from which I will never return.”

As we read these verses, we see that Job feels like God has let him down. He mentions dreading God, and how he wishes the Lord would take away His rod from him and stop beating him. We also see that Job wants to speak to God and plead his case with Him. So, what is going on here? Well, for those of us who have read the book of Job, we know what’s happening. Just to refresh our memories, Job was under some serious spiritual attack from Satan. Allow me share some of Job’s plight:

We read that Job was a “blameless [man] and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (1:1), and that he was also blessed with many earthly possessions and a large and healthy family (1:2). Job had it all. However, one day Satan came to God and told the Lord that the only reason Job worshipped and served Him was because he was so blessed. Satan said to God that if He would just take away His hedge of protection from Job that he would curse God to His face (1:9-11). So, the Lord lifted His hedge of protection from Job, and He allowed Satan the opportunity to test him and try him (1:12).