"I Know My Redeemer Lives” 

By:   Pastor Milton Coats

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Job 19:25-27 (NIV) says “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me”!

When you consider the circumstances surrounding these verses, this is an incredible state of faith by Job.  The book of Job next to Genesis may very well be the oldest book in the bible.  The book of Job is about human suffering.  You have heard stories of people going from rags to riches.  Job went from riches to rags.  He lost everything: his health, wealth and possessions.  He lost all 10 of his children in one day.  When Job’s friends heard about the calamity, they came to comfort him.  However, rather than being Job’s comforter, they turned out to be tormentors.  The better part of the book of Job, chapters 3-26 cover 3 cycles of speeches from Job’s friends and Job’s response.

In Chapter 19, we have Job’s response to the friend Bildad’s second speech.  Bildad in his first speech (chapter 8) told Job he was a hypocrite.  To add insult to injury, he told Job the reason his children died is because they were sinners.  If one has friends like that, they don’t need enemies. 

At the time Job was going through his ordeal, Job nor his friends knew the reason why.  They didn’t know God had given Satan permission to do those things.  So, what does Job do?  He pivots to what he does know in 19:25. “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth”.  This is before the Gospel, the Psalms or the Prophets prophesying the coming of Christ.  This is Christ in the book of Job.  Job spoke about skin worms destroying his body but he still expected to see God in his flesh for himself.  Job knew one day he was going to die.  However, he looks beyond the grave and he has hope of a resurrection.  He does so with great assurance.  During this resurrection season, you too can look beyond the grave and have hope of a resurrection with great assurance.  Praise God!  My Redeemer Lives!