Job - The Foreshadowing Part 15

    "So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning" (Job 42:12).  

    "Being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:8-11).

    The book of Job ends happily after the sad chronicle of heartbreak, loss, and pain.  Doubtless Job bore scars on his body and in his heart from the trial, particularly regarding the loss of his children.  He experienced vindication and blessing, however, because he faithfully overcame the devil's attempt to prod Job into cursing God to His face.  Thus, Job's "latter end" transcended by far the blessedness he had previously known (Job 42:11-17).

    We vividly behold the foreshadowing of the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in Job's experience of bounty, loss, and the gain of greater bounty.  Glorious beyond words as God the Son before His human incarnation, our Savior shines even more brightly as the God who is man, and the man who is God.  The wounds of Calvary upon His glorified hands, feet, and side bear witness to the very essence of the Divine nature, character, and way: "God is love" (I John 4:8).  He overcame every temptation in a lifetime of ongoing challenge.  Thus, "God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).  As with Job, His latter end is more blessed than His previous glory, a wondrous thing to suggest about an infinite Being - "Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh" (I Timothy 3:16).

   Had we known Job before his trial, we would have considered him a man greatly blessed.  After his trial, however, we would have been far more impressed by a man not only blessed, but also illuminated by an inner glory that only comes through great challenge.  As Job himself confessed to the Lord, "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seethe Thee" (Job 42:5).    In similar manner, the Lord so glorious before His earthly life, death, and resurrection now thrills us far more because He will forever reign as the crucified, risen, and ascended Christ.  Yes, the glory of "the latter end" transcended Job's beginning, and in the mystery of godliness, it transcends even the glory of He who had no beginning.

"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever."

(Revelation 5:11-14)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

(Psalm 150:6)