Redemption in the Book of Job

Job exclaimed, “Yet as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last, He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I will see God, Whom I, on my part, shall behold for myself, and Whom my eyes will see, and not another. My heart faints within me!” (Job 25:25-27 NASB). Job states that he is looking for his Redeemer to come in the future. It is not exactly clear in the Hebrew of the passage what Job means and how much he understands about his future. However, it is clear that he is looking for a future “Redeemer.” It also seems that Job believes this Redeemer is God Himself.

Job had been wrongfully accused by his “friends.” Their theology, a right theology from the book of Proverbs if understood in a general way, was that if one is faithful to God then blessings come from Him. Yet, if one is unfaithful then curses will come from the Lord. Their argument was that Job is experiencing suffering, so he must have sinned to bring judgment from the Lord. Job concedes that he is not sinless, but also argues strongly that he had not sinned in a way to bring God's judgment.

Job looked for his “Redeemer.” The Hebrew word translated “Redeemer” (goel) can also be understood as “Vindicator.” Do we have faith like Job that God is the great Redeemer?

Ben