Job 19:13-27, A Letter to Edna (7)

Read Job 19:13

Here we see another false hope removed from Job.  He cannot trust ultimately in family and friends.  Now we count a lot on those close to us.  But the issue is hope: do they take the place of God in my life?  We must consider, as Job, "Who is our source of comfort -- God or those close to me?”  But also this touches on the death of one close to me -- such as a daughter or wife or sister!  That loss can do more than most to point out the inadequacy of our hopes.  We lost a friend or a distant relative and we say, "Let God be God."  But when the death is as close as Connie's we then discover corners of the soul not yet yielded to God that could otherwise never be known and presented to God.  And yet they must.  If He is to be God and we are to be His creation there can be no corners reserved for my deity.

Read Job 19:25-27

With this passage, the issue of hope has its greatest positive expression in Job.  Notice how everything is tied to Christ. HE lives; HE will stand in the last day.  Because of HIM Job is assured that he will see God.  Job could not begin to understand the depths of this truth the way we can since Christ has come.  I encourage you to ponder this.  Understand that your daughter’s joy now is the result of Christ: Who He is and what He did.  Christ is all in all!  But it is true for you too.  In our grief you and I must be driven to Christ, for our tomorrows must be lived in Him.  Here are a few New Testament statements of this -- see how Jesus is all-in-all.  Nothing depends on us!

{       John 14:1-4.

{       John 14:19: Because I live you also will live.

{       John 15:5: Without Me you can do nothing.

{       John 11:25-26: He who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.

{       Galatians 2:20: I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me.

{       Philippians 1:21: To live is Christ, to die is gain.

{       Philippians 3:8: I count all things loss that I may gain Christ.

{       Colossians 3:3-4: For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, Who is our life appears, then you all will appear with Him in glory.

Read Job 22:21

These are words of Job's tormentors.  "Acquaint yourself with Him and you will be at peace."  The tormentor means: "get to know the perfect God and confess your sin and be at peace."  But Job knows his struggle is not with a sin that caused his suffering.  Thus, the words to him and to us should be taken at face value: in this time of grief the best thing is to get to know God better.  Grow in your relationship with Him.  Pray more.  Study the Word more.  "Acquaint yourself with Him."  Peace of the best kind will come.