Job had suffered great loss. His children and servants had been killed. His livestock had been wiped out. His body had been infected with terrible sores. Furthermore, his wife had told him to curse God and die, and three of his friends had accused him of being a rank sinner.
A lesser man might throw his hands in the air and forsake his faith. But that’s not what Job did. In fact he said, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God”
Job 19:25-26). Job had lost much, but he didn’t lose his faith.
The word “redeemer” in the Hebrew means to “deliver” or to “buy back.” In other words, it is someone who purchases an object that has been previously sold. The usage of “redeemer” in the Old Testament refers to one who rescues another (Lev. 25:26; Ruth 4:6). For Job, God was still his Redeemer. Whether it was going to happen sooner or later, God was going to deliver Job from his suffering.
Job added, “and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” Job may not have known it, but he was speaking prophetically. One of these days Jesus Christ will stand upon the earth and redeem all of His people. The apostle Paul said, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:16-18).
Beloved, our Redeemer lives! Comfort each other with these words.