The Devotional Journey: Bible Reading 26
Job clings to Yahweh through his suffering
Read Job 19:1–29.
Recall how Eliphaz was suggesting, based on his own human thinking, that Job’s suffering was a result of some sin that he had committed. Then Job replied to Eliphaz. And after that, there were several more rounds of speeches as Job and the others tried to figure out the cause of Job’s suffering.
Now here in Job 19, Job burst out at his friends’ accusations. Job used a series of powerfully emotional word pictures to describe his intense frustration.
He felt like an animal trapped (verse 6).
He felt like a criminal in court (verse 7).
He felt like a traveller fenced in (verse 8).
He felt like a king dethroned (verse 9).
He felt like a building that was being torn down (verse 10a).
He felt like a tree being uprooted (verse 10b).
He felt like a city under attack (verses 11–12).
He was describing himself as a man utterly rejected by Yahweh. We can feel his pain and deep emotions through these vivid descriptions.
Job’s suffering was sending him to the depths of despair, but even in the midst of pain, he had flashes of hope. He said, “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!”
He remembered that all believers in Yahweh will get to see Him. And he wasn’t talking about seeing God as a spirit but as a complete and whole person with a new body. Because he said that though his current sore-ridden body would die and rot, yet in a new body he would see his Creator-God.
Job was talking about the resurrection body! Even at this early stage in history, we see that Job understood what awaited the person who trusted in God for salvation. Mortal death would not be the end for the believer because Yahweh would provide a new, imperishable body. God would reveal more details about the resurrection in the New Testament, but we can already see that even Job had information about what would happen to the believer in Yahweh.
Job’s hope in Yahweh would see fulfilment in Jesus Christ. Job had asked for a mediator (Job 9:33), a witness in heaven to help him (Job 16:19) and a redeemer (Job 19:25). Jesus Christ would perform all three roles for those who believe in Yahweh!
Job was clinging on to God’s truth. This kept him from total despair. This helps us see that when life is going smoothly, we need to learn God’s Word well so that we have a right understanding of Him and of His truth. Then when we are suffering, the truths we have learnt can strengthen and comfort us. God’s truth will be an anchor that prevents our emotions from sweeping us into despair.
As for Job’s friends, they thought they were being helpful. But their insistence of trying to figure out what was Job’s sin was not helpful at all!
Our words can either hurt others or help heal them. Job’s friends were making him feel worthless. We need to be careful that our words are not making a friend’s suffering worse! Even if people need to be corrected, we should learn to do it in a loving and gentle way.
Notice also how Job said that his family, friends and even servants were avoiding him. Being isolated really added to his pain.
When someone we know is suffering and others are mocking him or her, and making accusations like “He’s getting what he deserved” or “This is the result of the way she’s been living”, can we have the heart not to shun the suffering person but extend a hand of fellowship and comfort?
Let us be the kind of people who turn to God daily by reading His word and praying. And when hard times come, let us recall His truth in Scriptures. And when we have friends who are suffering, let us pray to God for wisdom on how we can best comfort and minister to them in their time of need, so that they too, will turn to the One who can truly help: God Himself.