The first time I heard of the book of Job, I was around 12 or 13. I don't remember the circumstance that opened the conversation, but my mother told me his story. She let me know that no matter how bad things ever get, God is still God and that He is in control and will always take care of us. Trying to focus in on that time, I would wager that I was probably in a woe is me attitude about something, and that "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" , or as God told Job in 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man, was mentioned somewhere along in there as well. She always let me know that there was not a single circumstance that I could not rise above. After she told me the story of Job, I was intrigued and I went and got my little white bible that had my name inscribed on the front in gold letters and I sat on my bed and read the book of Job. When you're that young, the King James doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I got the part of Satan blaming God than he couldn't do anything to Job because God had a hedge of protection around him. That God said, you can do anything but kill him, that Satan wiped out this man's life in all areas, but most importantly that through it all, Job never cursed God or sinned and God restored everything in his life even greater than it had been. That's a lot for a kid to take in and really understand. As I got older, each time I would read Job, I would of course glean more out of it, but it wasn't until this time around reading it that I got a whole new revelation.
Job is said to be the oldest book in the bible, and yet contains prophecy of the second coming of Christ, our Redeemer. This shows the timelessness of God, that even in the days of Job, our Redeemer is mentioned. In chapter 19:25-27 says: 25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
For I know that my redeemer liveth. This single statement ties into numerous scriptures in the New Testament about Jesus being our redeemer. Galatians 4:5 tells us that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, and in Titus 2:14 we are told that Jesus gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. After the resurrection, when Jesus ascended into heaven, two angels were suddenly there with the disciples and told them, Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:11 Hebrews 7:25 further corroborates Job's statement that he liveth by saying He LIVES to make intercession for us.
And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: The latter day, or the return of the Messiah, is mentioned by multiple prophets, including: Zechariah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Hosea, and of course it is talked about extensively in the book of Revelation.
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Job knew that at some point, he would die and that his flesh would be destroyed in the grave. His faith however, left him with zero doubts whatsoever, that at some point, his body would be resurrected and he would IN HIS FLESH see God. Jesus, redeemed us on the cross. He was then resurrected after 3 days in the tomb. He has made it possible for those who will go to the grave before his return to be resurrected with him. The Amplified Bible in 1 Corinthians 15:20 says: But now [as things really are] Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, [and He became] the first fruits [that is, the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body, foreshadowing the resurrection] of those who have fallen asleep [in death]. We are also given a mighty promise in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. When Job said that he would see God, we are reaffirmed of that very thing in 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
Job KNEW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that with his own eyes he would SEE his redeemer upon his resurrection, and it was in the midst of the most unimaginable suffering and torment that he declared this. He did not curse God and die as his wife suggested, he did not cave to his freinamies, and I say that because what types of friends were these that instead of praying with Job did nothing but lay accusations at his feet. Job didn't say "yeah, you're right, I must have missed it somewhere". He firmly told them that it was the Lord that gives and the Lord that takes away. This is a man that loved his children so much that after they would gather together and feast, he would offer sacrifice out of fear they may have sinned against God. He KNEW who his redeemer was. Can you imagine when Job sees Jesus with his eyes, in his flesh, the love that he will pour out of the fabric of his being for his God? Can you imagine what songs of praise he will sing? I'm sure it will be very similar to Psalm 103 (1-5). Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
My Redeemer lives, and no matter what the enemy throws at me, that's something he will never be able to change. Jesus, Son of the I Am, lives, and lives in me. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Information for this post was taken from Perry Stone's Hebraic Prophetic Study Bible.
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