Job 19:25–26: “For I [Job] know that my Redeemer lives, / And He shall stand at last on the earth; / And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, / That in my flesh I shall see God,”

December 14th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

In the face of all his friends’ condemnation, Job held on to one truth: “I cannot answer all your questions, nor can I defend myself against all your accusations and arguments, but this I do know for a certainty: God is my Redeemer.” When Job said “my Redeemer” he was referring to an important Hebrew figure, a goel, which would become a significant aspect of Jewish law. The goel or kinsman-redeemer or vindicator was seen as the defender or champion of the oppressed. The redeemer had the responsibility of buying back or redeeming the lost inheritance of a deceased relative. He also had the responsibility of avenging the blood of a slain relative, not just to seek revenge but to see that justice was upheld. Job saw himself as a victim and was asking for his Redeemer to testify and set the record straight. He knew and trusted that if it didn’t happen during his lifetime, then certainly in the final judgment God would be his Redeemer.

There is a story of a businessman who wanted to sell an old warehouse. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and thrown trash everywhere. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, he said he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage. The buyer said, “Forget about the repairs. I’ll take it the way it is. I’m going to build something completely different. I don’t want the building; I want the site.” That is what God says to us. God wants to redeem us and build in us redemption for others to see and be drawn to.

“LORD, please don’t stop conforming us today into Your image.”