” ‘Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come. You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands. For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin; my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity.’ ” (v13-17)
Job continues to lament his current existence, longing to be free from it. Job also has some incorrect views of the afterlife (v7-12), thinking that trees have more hope for resurrection (life after death) than humans do (keep in mind it’s around 1700-1500 BC, so he doesn’t know anything about Jesus).
Despite Job lacking concrete knowledge of eternal life, he clearly understands that if life here on earth is all we have to look forward to, that would be a pretty cruel joke on God’s behalf. Why would God give us all of these guidelines, morals, and commandments, if our only purpose is to suffer and perish in this broken, cursed world, with no hope of anything better than this? Job’s right to lament that concept, because that would be pretty pointless.
In the passage quoted above Job has great hope for an afterlife (his “renewal”) where his sin would no longer come between him and God, his transgressions would be permanently removed and forgotten, and his guilt would be covered by God’s grace. This hope rings true with the gospel message: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (Jn 3:16-17)
My encouragement for today is to place our hope in God alone. I know our current circumstances are pretty grim in some ways, probably more grim than Job’s (based on the scale of how many people are affected). What that means is, our hope should not be in anything of this world, because this entire world will pass away one day. Our hope should be in the eternal – God, Jesus, and the fully restored relationship we will have with them in eternity, when the sin of this life no longer comes between us.
” ‘Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.’ ” (Mt 6:19-20) Jesus isn’t talking about storing physical treasure in heaven, but spiritual wealth that will be eternal, and will be far more valuable than the most precious metals / stones here on the earth (which thieves can steal). Another type of treasure we can help store up in heaven are the souls of those around us – when others come to know Jesus and receive eternal life, they too will join us in heaven – now that’s priceless.
Father God, our Most High God, great and mighty is Your name. Father may we learn to hope in You alone, and not rely on the things of this earth to give our lives their greatest value. May we find our greatest value and treasure in our relationship with You, and in other’s relationships with You. May we value what You value, and love others as You love them, so that we will all experience real treasure together in Heaven. Thank you for the grace and mercy available through Jesus’ death and resurrection, which makes an eternity with You possible. Please guide us to minister to others, that they may join us in Your presence, building Your kingdom one living stone at a time. In the holy and awesome name of Jesus, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training