I Know My Redeemer Lives

The Book of Job touches so many issues. If you’ve ever suffered hardship or heartache, you perhaps feel an affinity with Job. There’s no doubt seeing the crafty maneuvers of Satan serves as a great help to know how to better handle temptation. And who hasn't been challenged to become a more intelligent counselor when comforting a hurting friend because of the colossal mistakes of Job's friends? But we need to ask, "What is the chief purpose of Job?" Many believe it is to prepare the way for the work of Jesus on the cross.

Following the long, drawn-out squabble with Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, Job longs for a daysman (KJV). He desperately needs an umpire - a mediator - to settle the score. It’s right about here that Job declares:

"I know that my Redeemer lives"
- Job 19:25

Job is speaking of his Goel. So, our first question is, “What is a Goel?” It’s an ancient concept where members of the extended family were bound to the rest. Each bore a particular responsibility for the others. The Old Testament Law explains that if a man became indebted, the Goel was responsible to pay his debts and thus free the man. (Leviticus 25:25) If a man died childless, the Goel was responsible to marry his widow and produce a child to carry on the family name. (Deuteronomy 25:5) If a man were murdered, the Goel was responsible to avenge his death. (Numbers 35:12) The law further provided an order of priority to determine who of the family members was responsible to fill the role of the Goel. There were, after all, very particular requirements of the Goel. Besides being a near relative, he must be willing and able to fulfill the role. So you can get a sense of how important this whole thing was. The Kinsman-Redeemer had the responsibility of redeeming his relative’s lost opportunities. And in Job Chapter 19, Job's faith launches out and declares that God will definitely provide his Goel!

Jesus answered Job's cry. Jesus ideally fulfills Job’s need for an umpire. Emmanuel is the one true mediator between man and God. Between Job and his affliction. Between righteousness and sin:

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all….” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

As for the requirements of the Kinsman-Redeemer, Jesus fully fulfills that role as well. He is like us – a near relative:

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy… the power of death…” (Hebrews 2:14)

He is willing:

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give his life as a ransom for man.” (Mark 10:49)

Finally, He is able:

“…has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual
blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)

We have a Kinsman-Redeemer. Someone who will redeem all our lost opportunities. Someone who will take up our cause. Someone who will meet our needs. It’s Jesus. He has bound Himself to us by covenant oath, an oath that was established at the Cross. We may not have the afflictions of Job, but we each live with our own predicaments and it is at the Cross that we can find hope. Whatever your situation, you too can declare, “I know that my Redeemer lives!”

- Pastor Mark