“If only there were someone…” Job 9:33a

God breathed into Job’s mind the plan of salvation while he was unwittingly complaining of his inability to perceive God’s presence and voice. Job understood God’s nature as ‘other-worldly’ – not in the form of man that could be confronted (v.32). So, how did Job continue to process through his pain? (Dramatic pause) He verbalized his wish-list for… (wait for it)… Christmas! Here’s how he articulated it:

“If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that His terror would frighten me no more.” (vv. 33 – 34)

Job was not the only one groaning for a savior. Since the fall of man, all of creation has been pleading for a savior to make all things new – to ‘reboot’ it all… to set things right again. The first time Jesus came to earth, it was to set things right again between God and man.  Jesus took the punishment each of us deserves, allowing every one who exercises faith (Ephesians 2:8-10) in Christ access to The Father – and the perpetual Christmas gift, the hope of eternal joy! The terror of hell was vanquished by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is no longer a need to fear the rod of God’s judgment. (Read Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 9:15, 12:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Believers today can now do what Job was unable to do – speak up without fear (v.35). God invites us to draw near to Him and to lay all our burdens before Him. Jesus is our burden-bearer Who receives each of those cries and Who also supplies all our needs according to His heavenly economy of limitless supply! (Read Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16, 10:19-22; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 68:19; and Philippians 4:19)

Christmas changed it all. It was at that first Christmas when the angels announced that there would now be peace between God and man, saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:14) Yes, Jesus is Heaven’s arbitrator to represent man before God. He is our advocate. Thank God today that we no longer groan as Job did, saying: IF ONLY THERE WERE SOMEONE! Instead, we can come before Him boldly and say, I HAVE SOMEONE WHO WILL ARBITRATE FOR ME! HIS NAME IS JESUS CHRIST!

I, for one, am forever grateful for our Savior and Lord. Does His favor rest upon you?

Have a blessed day…