Job 18-19: Hope in EVERY Circumstance

"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God..." Job 19:25-26

Every trial is at the very least bearable if we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. When we don't see this light, our lives are dark and hopeless. But what if there always was a light at the end of the tunnel? What if I could tell you that in every circumstance, whether big or small, there is hope for those who believe in the Lord?

We come this morning to perhaps the most popular verses in the book of Job. In their context, we find Bildad in chapter 18 once again proclaiming that the wicked are punished, and since Job is being punished, he must have sinned. However, Job knows this is not true--his conscious is clear. Thus, he responds to Bildad by first proclaiming his innocence but then announcing the great turmoil that he is in, since it seems as if there is no hope or judgment on earth. Also, he spends several verses fleshing this out, by explaining how he has no friends or family to comfort him. He is experiencing the darkest trial possible on this side of eternity, and amidst it all he proclaims that he has no earthly hope. Yet, where does Job turn?

After saying all of that in the first parts of the chapter, Job exclaims loudly in verses 25-26: "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God." What is Job saying here? Well, amidst his greatest point of despair, he is proclaiming great faith and hope in God. Even though he currently thinks that God is (at least partially) against him (v. 6), he knows that somehow, amidst the chaos, he is still good and he will someday judge the earth and all its iniquity as well as honor the righteous. Thus we find the Job's ultimate hope was not in his circumstance, for there truly was no earthly light at the end of the tunnel. However, there was a heavenly light at the end of the tunnel, as Job hoped in his Savior rather than his circumstance. Amidst his trials, Job knew that the One who would redeem him was the One who was eternally alive, and that he would eventually come to truly punish the wicked and reward the righteous.

So, where is your hope this morning? Is it in your circumstances? If so, then consider that hope useless, and hope in a Redeemer who will at last stand upon the earth and wrong every wrong and right every right. Henry Wadworth Longfellow states in his poem "Christmas Bells" that in the end "the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, goodwill towards men." This is our hope, that the One who saved us, is saving us, and will continue to save us is alive. And we will surely someday see him as he is. Amen!