Scripture Passage for Today
32 “God is not a mortal like me,
so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.
33 If only there were a mediator between us,
someone who could bring us together
(Job 9:32-33 NLT)
Observation
It’s amazing. This oldest of all Biblical writings—probably physically written before the book of Genesis itself was written (though obviously not written before the events of Genesis—duh!)… This oldest of all Biblical writings still cries out for a mediator!
In this case, the call for a “go-between” isn’t a call for atonement, per se. It’s not that Job sees the need for a sin-covering. (It’s not that he failed to see that, either—notice how he regularly offered sacrifices for his children on the possibility that they might have sinned against God.)
It’s simply a call for someone to bridge the gap between an awesome God and frail humanity. Even while Job proclaims his innocence—while he affirms that there is no “hidden sin” somehow responsible for his difficulties —he still sees the vastness of the gap between who he is and who God is.
I propose he’s seen something of how big God is, but nothing of how good God is. Job makes some strong accusations against God.
13 “‘Yet your real motive—
your true intent—
14 was to watch me, and if I sinned,
you would not forgive my guilt.
(Job 10:13-14 NLT)
“All you were after when forming me,” Job says to God, “was to create one whose sins you could point to—one whose faults you could spotlight.”
But when the mediator Job longs for does appear (hint: born in Bethlehem, laid in a manger), his every word and action serves to disprove Job’s accusations. In the “one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5 NIV), it’s made crystal clear that God’s intent toward us is forgiveness, healing, and restoration.
I want to see both. I want to live with a sense of the vastness—the greatness—of God Almighty…and to know that the heart of the Mighty One towards me is exceedingly, inexpressively good!
Wow! I look at this scripture and see a man who still in a state of confusion and now not wanting to go on in life. He just wants to be left alone to die. His friend will not give up on him though. I am glad that I have the friends that I do and the family that i have. I am blessed to be apart of a bigger family at Jefferson Assembly. If it wasnt for my friends at Jefferson Assembly i would be still lost and confused myself. I have made strong accusations against God myself and he continues to show me the right way and the path that i need to take. Even though for the one thing that i pray for everyday, it just seems like it will not happen. I have been forgiven for what i have done and continue to grow and learn but that other person just will not see me for who I am now and still sees the past and cannot get over the anger and will not step forward with me and give it to God. My faith is in Him and I still say there is hope and I will never give up though. Job is sitting there wondering what he has done and I sit here knowing what I have done and I have consequences for my actions. I am just still confused though about Job. for a man that has shown his love for God and that he would take on the sins of his children to. Why Job?
ReplyDeleteI know Job was a good man but I'm still amazed that anyone could think of themselves as being totally innocent - not guilty of anything wrong.
ReplyDeleteFor all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That is why it is by GRACE (get what we don't deserve) that we are all saved and by MERCY we do not get what we do deserve.
I don't want to even think about what I would "deserve". I'm so thankful for my Savior, Redeemer, best friend & mediator JESUS. I am so thankful that God sees me through Jesus.
Job was a guy who lived uprightly in a world that really had not embraced the God of the Old Testament…. yet he feared God and shunned evil. I may be wrong, but I think Job 9:2,3 would reflect that he knew no one could be righteous before God, but somehow, he thought that no wrong could befall him because of his ‘good works’ (to fear God and shun evil). A humble theologian states, “the book’s primary questions are proposed. ‘Is it possible for God’s people to love and serve him because of who he is and not just for his gifts? Can the righteous maintain their faith in and love for God in the midst of unexplainable tragedy and underserved suffering?’ “ Job is that man! In Job 9:33 - 35 he is really crying out for Messiah; he pleads for an arbiter, a mediator, who could hear His case. I echo that of Joey, Dea and Pastor…GREAT is the GRACE of our God, our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, who is our mediator and helper in times of trouble!!!
ReplyDelete(I Timothy 2:5).