By: Obed Pineda
The work of art that is Job’s life powerfully demonstrates that God’s grace is indeed sufficient and that His power is made perfect in human weakness (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9). There is no need to doubt that Job would have been content simply with God’s forgiveness. Behold the beauty of Divine Grace! Jehovah did not ask of Job sacrifices for his sin, but confirmed him as the mediator of the sins of his friends (cf. Job 42:7-10). This man shows us an example of how God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Job represented Jehovah God honorably and by his affliction glorified the name of God. With his patience, Job closed Satan’s perverse lips and verified that it is possible to lose everything and maintain faith in God. Job did not know for sure why calamity came into his life as quickly as it did, but was able to still hold on to his conviction, having purposed in his heart, “my lips will not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. Far be it from me that I should say you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me” (Job 27:4-5). Therefore, Job fulfilled the words of James who said: “blessed is the man who endures temptation” (James 1:12a). The blessedness of Job was that he became perfect and complete; the complete work of his immovable trust in Divine Providence. The book of Job concludes by saying, “so Job died, old and full of days” (Job 42:17). The expression “full of days” is of utmost importance as it relates to the Divine reward. When speaking about the death of King David, Holy Scripture tells us that he “died in a good old age, full of days and riches and honor” (1st Chronicles 29:28). Let us note that Job also died full of days, riches and honor. The same expression is used when speaking of the death of Isaac (cf. Genesis 35:29) and Jehoiada (cf. 2nd Chronicles 24:15). According to experts of ancient oriental literature, the meaning of this expression has a high value. This phrase demonstrates that to whom it is applied, they lived a satisfied and satiated life. Therefore, the writer of Job is revealing that Job’s restoration was complete, perfect because it was both earthly and spiritual. Job’s faith was perfected in the furnace of affliction and “being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1st Peter 1:7). It cannot be denied that Job’s faith confirms that the
name of Jehovah was praised, glorified and honored before the just and the unjust. Job always praised and worshipped Jehovah. Job, as a servant of Jehovah (since God calls him that four times, cf. Job 42:7-8), defeated the devil’s false accusation against God (cf. Job 1:9). At the beginning of his suffering, he began in ignorance, but finished with wisdom (cf. Job 42:1-6). Even after he died, he became a model of justice (cf. Ezekiel 14:14, 20) and unfailing patience (cf. James 5:11). In Job we see how complete and satisfying are God’s rich heavenly blessings. Israel never understood this wonderful and sublime instruction. Jehovah, through his prophets, proclaimed “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance” (Isaiah 55:1-2). With this same proclamation, Jesus exclaimed “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”
(John 7:37-38). Job in his agonizing trial prophesied “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25a) and this conviction was “as cold water to a weary soul” because Job, without knowing the Christ, came to receive “good news from a far country” (Proverbs 25:25). So God, through his servant Job, reveals to us His desire to give us a life full of days. But once again, this blessing has been reserved for those living with faith since it is written that “he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Therefore, we who do this, let us run with patience the race of faith and do not take our eyes off the Author and Finisher of faith (cf. Hebrews 12:1-2). In Job we learn how to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering” as he proves to us that truly “He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).