In the Book of Job there is a progression of Job’s understanding of man’s relationship with God.
Job remains faithful, even after losing his wealth, his children and his health. Yet, at first, he is confused, being overwhelmed by sadness and despair.
His three friends offer little comfort because they believe personal suffering is a consequence of personal sin. Bildad states this view in his speech in chapter 8, arguing that because God is just, Job’s suffering must be the result of his own wrongdoing or that of his children.
Although Job never claims sinlessness, he feels that he is being treated unfairly, and he would like to defend himself before God. He acknowledges Bildad’s point that God is just. “Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God? If one wished to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand” (Job 9:2, 3).
He realizes that he – a mere man – could not possibly justify himself before Almighty God. After praising the power of God, he asks: “How then can I answer Him, and choose my words to reason with Him? For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge” (Job 9:14, 15).
Job believes that God is merciful and wishes to plead for mercy. Yet, he feels that God has brought him so low that he could not even plead his own case without condemning himself!
“If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong; and if of justice, who will appoint my day in court? Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse” (Job 9:19, 20).
At this point we must keep in mind that Job was blameless! In Job 1:1 it is stated: “And that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” Some accuse Job of arrogance, but in reality he is simply stating the truth. It is precisely because of his humility that he understands that, although he is a dedicated servant of God, he needs mercy to even appear before God!
In despair he comes to the conclusion: “He destroys the blameless and the wicked” (Job 9:22). In that despair, however, he sees his need for a Mediator.
On his own, he cannot solve the problem of sin. “If I wash myself with snow water, and cleanse my hands with soap, yet You will plunge me into the pit, and my own clothes will abhor me” (Job 9:30, 31).
Then Job expresses a wish for Someone to represent him before God, a Mediator, an Advocate. “For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, and that we should go to court together. Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both” (Job 9:32, 33).
Although Job sees the need, it is only later that he comes to believe that God will indeed provide a Redeemer. At this point he is still in despair. “Let Him take His rod away from me, and do not let dread of Him terrify me. Then I would speak and not fear Him, but it is not so with me” (Job 9:34, 35).
The climax of the book comes in chapter 19 when Job declares his faith that God will indeed provide a Redeemer. “Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! That they were engraved on a rock with an iron pen and lead, forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:23–27).
After this point, Job is still suffering but he is no longer in despair.
Herselt, Belgium.