On the first day of Job’s testing when he lost everything, his response was to “…fall to the ground to worship (Job 1:20)”. He knew everything he had was a gift freely loaned to him. He was thankful for it (Job 1:20). Despite everything that happened, he remained grateful and never blamed God. But this didn’t stop him from wondering why God had allowed it.
God was the only one who held the answers to the why. But Job knew he was not worthy to approach God and question Him. He longed for someone to act on his behalf. Someone to go between him and God. A mediator who would bring them together and represent him so he wouldn’t have to approach God in fear (Job 9:33; 16:21).
Was Job expressing a legitimate desire or a pipedream? I’m not sure, but it seems more like wishful thinking or a longing of the heart rather than Job believing such a person existed. Of course, he had no idea he was prophetically describing what Jesus would do, all he had was a need.
Now fast forward to Job 42:8 where God asks Job to pray for Elipaz, Bildad and Zophar. He tells the three men that he will only accept their burnt offering if Job prays for them. In the previous post, we discussed why they needed to do this and why it was important for Job to pray for his friends. However, let’s also not miss the fact that God is asking Job to intercede on behalf of his friends. God made Job a mediator. Ironic, isn’t it? The very thing Job wishes he had, he has now become.
It made me wonder how many times I’ve thought: If only there was…. Or I wish there was…. Fill in the blanks with whatever you’re looking for. Whatever it is, how often do we look for the answers outside of ourselves? I know I’m always searching for someone else to fulfill that need because it seems so fantastical, more like a dream than reality. But have we been so focused on the if only’s and what we don’t have that we’ve missed what’s in front of us? What if the longing is more than just a need? What if it’s a calling in disguise? And what if the person God is seeking is us?
Job had no idea when he longed for a mediator that God would ask him to step into that role. All he wanted were answers. He was simply expressing a desire. Yet God chose Job to be His mediator. It’s a great reminder that sometimes the needs we see might actually be God’s calling in disguise.