Jan 8 (Daily reading: Job 17-20) Part Two. We looked yesterday at Job’s questions. He added one about hope: “Where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see it?” (17:15, NKJV). He thought hope was gone: “He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone; my hope He has uprooted like a tree … and those whom I love have turned against me” (19:10,19). Chapter 19 describes a man who had come, as we say, to the end of his rope. Yet, there was just enough hope left to cry out, “Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!” (How ironic is that? He had no way of knowing that his story would encourage millions!) “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth” (19:23,25).
I wrote in my book: “I have heard it said, ‘When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!’ Then I heard someone add, ‘But there may not be enough rope left to tie a knot!’ In a time like that, it is comforting to know that the knot is already there at the end of the rope, and it is ‘hope in our Lord Jesus Christ’ (1 Thes.1:3).”
This was Job’s assurance in the face of all he had experienced, “I know that my Redeemer lives!” Sing with me the old hymn, if you know it: “I know that my Redeemer liveth, And on the earth again shall stand; I know eternal life He giveth; That grace and power are in His hand.”
-Al Gary
Leave a Reply