Dear Fellow Believers:

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the end He will stand upon the earth. (Job 19:25)

“There’s gotta be a solution to this problem.” This is the approach of the engineer to a problem as simple as leaky roof or as complicated as an airlift of an army. Where there is a need, there is a way. It has led to many an invention and to many a solution.

Job (J”OH”B) had more than an engineering problem; he had a theological problem, what many would call a faith problem. He believed that God was just, and had served Him for many years and had received great blessings- wealth, children to be proud of, respect. But Satan came and accused him before God of a quid pro quo (Latin for [giving] “This for that”). “Take away all he has and Job will curse you to your face,” Satan hissed. God allowed Job’s faith to be tested by taking wealth, children, health, and reputation. Three friends came to comfort Job, but in their clumsy way, ended up accusing him of bringing disaster upon himself.

From the depths of his being Job affirmed that someone would make things right, that there was a solution from a gracious God, that a Redeemer (one who pays a ransom) would appear on the last day and enable him to see God.

Job was right. Perhaps we should regard him as a prophet by whom the Holy Spirit revealed the hope of our Redeemer. Job had no idea how God would do it, but he was convinced in the midst of his sufferings and doubts, that God would work out the solution. Now with the resurrection of Christ, we see that Jesus is the one who will stand on the Last Day as our Redeemer, ransoming us from sin, death and the devil, and enabling us, in our flesh, to see God.

O God, who for our redemption gave Your only-begotten Son to the death of the holy cross, and by His glorious resurrection delivered us form the power of our enemy, bring us by the Holy Spirit to the continual remembrance of our baptism, where all our sins may be drowned through daily repentance and where day by day a new man may arise to live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

May God give you a blessed Lent!

Rev. Richard Zeile, Pastor