1 October 2020

I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that at the last he will stand upon the earth;
and after my skin has been thus destroyed,
then in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see on my side,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another..
From Job 19: 21-27, NRSV

The Book of Job was written long before belief in resurrection was common. What is even more remarkable is that, at this point in the story, Job is in the depths of suffering – his skin is a mass of boils and his life is full of pain and loss. This makes his absolute faith in God even more remarkable. His faith is such that, even if he dies in this abject state, God will not have abandoned him. Job may not see or sense God in his present life – but trusts that he will see God “in the flesh”.

• • Where does Job get his faith from?
  • When have you met someone strong in faith even in the midst of great suffering?

Today, you might like to listen to and pray with the aria, I know that my redeemer liveth from Handel’s Messiah.