What does "in my flesh I will see God" reveal about Job's faith? Setting the Scene Job sits in ashes, body broken, possessions gone, friends accusing. In that darkness he declares: “Yet in my flesh I will see God.” (Job 19:26) This statement is surrounded by: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger.” (Job 19:25-27) What the Words Literally Say • “After my skin has been destroyed” – Job foresees physical death and decay. • “Yet in my flesh” – he expects to possess a renewed body. • “I will see God” – not merely sense or imagine, but visually behold the Lord. • “My eyes will behold Him” – personal, conscious, face-to-face encounter. Job’s Faith in Bodily Resurrection • Death is real, but not final. Job anticipates a future physical existence. • He expects a tangible body capable of sight, affirming resurrection (cp. Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2). • This hope predates later revelation yet aligns perfectly with it (Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44). Confidence in a Personal Relationship • “My Redeemer lives” (v. 25) reveals a living Kinsman-Redeemer who will vindicate him. • Job expects to see God “for myself,” not through another’s report. • He trusts he will be welcomed, “not as a stranger” (v. 27), highlighting intimacy with God (Psalm 17:15). Assurance of Ultimate Justice • Job believes God will “stand upon the earth” (v. 25), bringing judgment and setting wrongs right. • His faith rests on God’s character, not on present circumstances (James 5:11). • That certainty sustains him when earthly courts and friends fail. Hope that Triumphs over Suffering • Job’s declaration rises while sores still cover him; faith lifts him above physical pain. • He recognizes suffering is temporary; glory is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). • The yearning of v. 27 (“How my heart yearns within me!”) shows longing for God outweighs dread of death. Supporting Scriptures • Psalm 16:9-10 – “my flesh also will dwell secure… You will not abandon my soul to Sheol.” • Isaiah 25:8 – “He will swallow up death forever.” • Hosea 13:14 – “I will ransom them from the power of Sheol.” • John 11:25 – “I am the resurrection and the life.” • 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – the Lord’s descent, the dead raised, believers “caught up… to meet the Lord.” • Revelation 22:4 – “They will see His face.” Key Takeaways • Job’s faith is resurrection-centered, expecting a literal, embodied meeting with God. • He demonstrates unwavering trust in God’s justice and goodness despite unanswered questions. • His hope anchors him amid suffering, offering a model of perseverance for all believers. |
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