What Job Didn’t Know That We Do -- Part 2

Job did not know of the resurrection as we do. He had some understanding of this hope. He spoke of trees cut down that later revived and budded (14:7-10). Some revelation of the resurrection was given: “So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep.” This implies that when the heavens are no more they will awake and be roused. Later he exclaimed, “And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God...” (19:26). But Job did not have the information with which we are provided of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15).

Job asked the question: “If a man die, shall he live again?” (14:14). Jesus definitively replies, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25, 26).

Until Jesus made that wonderful pronouncement, people could only wonder, or fear, or perhaps wish. But now we can know. Job did not know that the empty tomb would proclaim victory over Satan, sin, and death. Our view of temptation, pain, and anguish should be different from Job’s. He did not know what we know about the resurrection.

Job did not know where to find God. “Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat!” (23:3). Today we could tell Job where to find God. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

In Christ we see the righteousness, the compassion, the goodness, and the severity of God. In Him we behold God’s love for sinners and hatred of every false way. At Calvary we see the ultimate revelation of Hod concern and His plan for fallen man. In the gospel we learn the means by which we may be washed and reconciled (Romans 6:3, 4). What a difference Jesus makes.

The book of Job, like other things written aforetime, was written for our learning. We should read the book, feel with Job, and learn from him. But let us be ever thankful that God’s perfect revelation has been given that we may have knowledge to sustain and give us hope that Job did not have.