"If only there were a mediator..."

Most of us are familiar with the story of Job. As a man, "he was blameless - a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person [in the land of Uz]" (Job 1:1-3). Satan, the Accuser as he is called in Job 1, asks God for permission to test him by taking away his family, his possessions, and his health. Even after all of this is taken away from Job, he never blames God, but instead says "'should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?' So in all this, Job said nothing wrong" (Job 2:10).

The thing that sticks out to me about Job, though, is his realization of a need for a Redeemer. Job lived around 2000 BC, well before Israel was even a nation. As the insert in my bible states, "With Job, we return to the beginning of history, when mortals first struggled to know God and understand the world." So with this in mind, listen to the foreshadowing of Christ in these statements made by Job...

"If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment. Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength" (Job 9:33-35).

"Even now my witness is in heaven. My advocate is there on high. My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God. I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends" (Job 16:19-21).

"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!" (Job 19:25-27)

Again, it is amazing to think that Jesus' coming was still 2000 years away, yet Job knew in his heart that there was someone who would fulfill this role of being the mediator between he and God. Here we are today, 2000 years after Christ came to earth, and the words of Job still hold true. As Paul told Timothy...

"For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity - the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time" (1 Timothy 2:5,6).