The Mediator has Come!
How many of us can relate to story of Job; loss of family, loss of home and possessions, and loss of desire to continue on in the midst of trials. When these kind of trials occur it is easy to throw our hands up into the air and shout “I’m done God”! Well your not alone in those times and the book of Job deals with some of the worst possible events a person can face. Today I’d like to focus on a small part and shed some light for us to see how we can deal with them as well.
Job 9:32 “God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial. 33 If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. 34 The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment. 35 Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength. ~NLT~
How do we relate to God in the midst of trials? Our answer is shaped in our relationship with God.
- Job knew God, he trusted Him and he spent time with God.
- Are we doing the same, what does your devotion time consist of with Him?
- He has now been accused of secret sin by these friends and standing on the truth of his innocence he makes a case to God looking for relief from his current situation.
- Job 19:25 he tells us as much “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last day he will stand upon the earth.
- Given his trials you can understand why he would cry out like he’s doing.
- Job knows the day is coming when he’ll meet Him but that is giving him much comfort where he’s at right now.
Which brings me to the topic of this post Job's plea for an Arbitrator or Mediator. He cried out to God for someone to come to his aid and bring him relief for the situation.
- Paul writes in 1 Tim 2.5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. ~ESV
- Job’s cry was that of all mankind when bad things happen we look for an answer to the problem. It is when these things take place that we should turn to God but unfortunately we usually lash out and turn our frustration to God.
- Job only had a piece of the picture but we have the whole picture in the New Testament.
We should know the mediator between God and man and we should know where to turn for ourselves and where to point our friends when they are in the midst of trials.
- 1 Cor 10.13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. ~NLT~
When a person isn’t familiar with God and the trials He allows their usual response is despair.
We must look at it from the perspective of God and believe He’s working things out in His timing.
- Rom 8.35-39 tell us there should be nothing that could separate us from God, but that’s easy to say when everything is sunshine and lollipops.
As we close the year I’m reminded of something my wife and I have purposed in our lives - going to God in every situation of our life.
Heb 12 1-4;
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. ~ESV~
We should look to Jesus and remember how much He endured to bring us into the relationship with Father so that we might stand in the face of trials and tribulations having His strength to overcome all the trials of this life. With the holidays upon us be my prayer is that we'd be on the lookout for those who may need words of encouragement and that we don't come across as Job's friends making the time harder but that we would be like Proverbs tells us;
- Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Pastor J
