What does "He rescues the afflicted" teach about God's character and intentions? Stepping Into the Phrase “He rescues the afflicted” (Job 36:15) is more than a comforting sentence; it is a window into who God is and what He continually chooses to do. God’s Heart for the Afflicted • Compassionate awareness – “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) • Personal involvement – “I have surely seen the affliction of My people… I have come down to rescue them.” (Exodus 3:7-8) • Steadfast devotion – “For He will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.” (Psalm 72:12) Rescue Woven Through the Whole Bible Old Testament snapshots • Israel in Egypt: God breaks Pharaoh’s grip (Exodus 12). • Gideon’s tiny army: God frees Israel from Midianite oppression (Judges 7). • Hannah’s barrenness: God “raises the poor from the dust” (1 Samuel 2:8). New Testament fulfillment • Jesus declares His mission: “He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives… to release the oppressed.” (Luke 4:18) • The cross: “While we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6) What the Phrase Reveals About God’s Character • Mercy—He feels with those in distress and acts, not merely observes. • Justice—He opposes oppressive power structures, vindicating the weak (Psalm 35:10). • Sovereignty—Only One with absolute authority can guarantee rescue (2 Samuel 22:28). • Faithfulness—He consistently keeps covenant promises to protect His people (Deuteronomy 7:9). What It Tells Us About His Intentions Toward Us • He intends to turn affliction into an avenue of deliverance: “He rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.” (Job 36:15) • He intends intimate fellowship in trouble, not merely an eventual exit: “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed.” (Psalm 9:9) • He intends transformation, shaping listeners through hardship so they “open their ears” to His voice. • He intends eternal rescue, culminating in a new heaven and new earth where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” (Revelation 21:4) Living in Light of His Rescuing Nature • Bring real struggles to Him; He is predisposed to deliver. • Stand with the afflicted; reflect His heart by practical rescue (James 1:27). • Trust His timing; rescue may arrive through the very pressure we want removed (Romans 8:28). • Celebrate testimonies of deliverance; they reinforce faith in future rescue (Psalm 40:1-3). |
    |