Glimpses of Christ in the book of Job

Am just finishing reading/meditating in the book of Job. It has been such a blessing the past few days to think about how Job can point to and remind us of our LORD Jesus Christ. Sort of a 'type of Christ'.

In chapter 1 of Job, he is spoken of, (by God), to be "perfect & upright, one that feared God, and eschewed evil." And our LORD Jesus Christ in 1 John is spoken of as one who 'has no sin'.

Our LORD Jesus was tempted by satan in the wilderness for 40 days. Satan attempts to get Job to renounce his God. For our LORD Jesus the angels came and ministered to him......God himself came to rescue Job. Satan was defeated in both instances.

In Philippians, chapter 2, it talks about the humiliation of our LORD Jesus. In going through the book of Job I have often thought about how humiliated and down trodden Job must have felt. Even his wife advised him to "curse your God and die." But Job rose above it all even as our LORD Jesus went to the depths of woe and then was elevated to the heights of glory.

Job lost his children and he talks of his relatives and friends forgetting him....not wanting to have anything to do with him. In John 26:56 we see "all the disciples forsook him, (Jesus) and fled".

Job's physical sufferings were tremendous. Even so.....they can only 'remind' me of what the LORD Jesus went thru for me....His sufferings are unlike anything we could attribute to any of man's sufferings.... My heart was so heavy in pondering all of Job's sufferings..... and then I turn to the Savior..... and my heart wells up in worship to the One who would do such a thing for me.

Job actually thought that God had forsaken him. His "friends" (if you can really call them that!) rebuked him for his attitude. But we know the LORD Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" And for my sin.....He who knew no sin was forsaken of His Father. Job could not die.....as this was God's protection on him, but he desired to die.

AND NOW.....the later end of our LORD Jesus Christ is that He is exalted above all! Seated at the right hand of His (and my) Father. Having accomplished the plan, the work is finished! Job was restored not to his former prosperity but it says, "the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning." Job 42:12.

This has encouraged my heart. I know my Savior's righteousness was far more perfect than Job's, I know His humiliation was far greater, His conflict with satan was far more intense, His sufferings far more severe, and His exaltation very much greater. But how thrilling to see that way back (somewhere between Genesis 11 and 12) the life of an ordinary man named Job would point us to a coming Savior. And more, that I, in 2009 would look back and rejoice in how the book of Job makes me love my Savior more and more.


As I think of this....I think of a song that I have come to love by the Gettys
To see and hear their other music you can go here
(They have a REALLY good kids cd too that teaches Scripture!)

The Power of the Cross

Words & Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

Chorus:
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev’ry bitter thought,
Ev’ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
“Finished!” the vict’ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

Final Chorus:
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Job ... in Genesis?

We find the book of Job in the middle of our Bibles so we don't often think of its proper place in Biblical History. It likely took place around Genesis chapters 11-12 or so. His wealth was measured in livestock and not gold or silver, he was the priest of his family and made burnt offerings on their behalf.

In Job chapter 1 we find Job going about his business and we find satan "going to and fro in the earth." It reminds me of 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."

Of special encouragement to me today is the fact that it was GOD, in verse 8, who called Job "a good and an upright man, one that feared God and avoided evil." So this was not Job's estimation of himself, or the author of the book of Job's estimation of Job....it was God's estimation of Job.

And so today, satan is still gong about seeking those who he can trip up, stumble and cause to shipwreck their lives. BUT our faithful God has provided all we need to stand in this evil day.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD ,
and in the power of HIS might.
Put on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil." Eph 6:10-11

I am so grateful for HIS provision in my life today.

Job …. “there was a man….”

Before I get to some thoughts from the book of Job, I will tell you that I am enjoying 6 of my precious grandkids today. Lydia and Sydney are just finishing up a “gramma” lunch which consisted of frozen pizza, french fries, cheese sticks and nutritious yogurt! Samuel and Alyssa are playing a game of Battleship and Chloe and Cody are playing a game of Candy Land with Jeshanah. It is so much fun being a gramma to these kids. It keeps me on my toes……both physically and spiritually…..for these children need the prayers and influence of godly grandparents.

Which brings me to some thoughts on the book of Job from this morning.

We read, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and enschewed evil.” We can see that Job was likely ‘perfect’ because he feared God. He was likely ‘upright’ because he enschewed or avoided evil. Wow! What a challenge for me to be daily fearing God and avoiding evil. Was thinking…how do I do this from day to day?

To ‘fear God’ is to have

* the acute awareness of the presence of God & His power that produces in me a sense of awe and calls forth from me honor, respect

and reverence. I want to properly ‘fear’ God in all of my life. I need to be daily in His presence acknowledging His attributes, reveling in His majesty and trusting in His power.