Our Powerful Redeemer
Job 19:23–27
I know that my Redeemer lives. Job 19:25

The word redeemer in Hebrew is goel. It refers to a relative who performs the office of a redeemer for his friend. We must visualize a situation such as this. A Hebrew has lost his inheritance through debt. He has mortgaged his estate and, because of a lack of money to meet the debt, he is about to lose it or has already lost it. In such a situation it is the goel’s duty, as the next of kin, to buy the inheritance; that is, to pay the mortgage and restore the land to his relative.

This is what Job refers to in his great expression of faith in his divine Redeemer, and it is why this passage must refer to Job’s own resurrection. As Job speaks these words, he is in dire physical condition. He has lost family and health. He must have imagined that he is about to lose his life too. He will die. Worms will destroy his body. But that is not the end of the story. For his body, like land, is his inheritance; and there is One who will redeem it for him. Years may go by; but at the latter day the Redeemer will stand upon the earth and will perform the office of a goel in raising his body. He will bring Job into the presence of God. A second duty of the goel was to redeem by power, if this should be necessary. Abraham performed this duty toward his nephew Lot when Lot had been captured by four kings in a war. Abraham pursued the kings and recovered the prisoners and spoil.

This is what the Lord Jesus Christ is to do, is it not? He will attack in power—we speak rightly of resurrection power—and will break death’s hold. Now we look forward to the redemption of our bodies in that great and final resurrection.

Finally, the goel also had a duty to avenge a death. Imagine that an Israelite has been struck by a sword and is dying. The goel comes and learns who it is who has struck his friend and relative. Immediately he snatches up his own sword and dashes off to avenge the murder. Our Christ is likewise our avenger. We are dying men and women but we have a redeemer. Thus, we read of his future activities and triumph: “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. .  .  . ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:25–26, 55–57).

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.