◄ My Servant (JOB-study 8) ►

A Full Study Of JOB

Plan of God

The book of Job, like every jot and title of the Word, has its own unique purpose, and like all historical and prophetic Scriptures it is Christo-centric... it points to Christ. The book of Job has comforted Christian souls down through the centuries, but like all inspired Scriptures, Job fits into God’s unique purpose and plan - a plan formed in the heart of God, before the foundation of the world, that Christ should be all in all. And so the book of Job is not only a great comfort to the suffering believer.. it is, from start to finish, a wonderful "type" – a type of God’s whole plan for Man – a plan set out in the opening chapter of Genesis – let man have dominion.. Genesis1:26

Unfolding Plan

It demonstrates the way that God, over time, increasingly reveals Himself to man. It typifies the path that the man of faith must follow to see God and live. Job is not suffering because he has displeased God. Job is not suffering because he has sinned – indeed the opposite is the truth, as we are instructed from the start of the book. God is omniscient – knowing the past, the present, and the future. God knew Job would endure to the end, when He permitted the enemy to attack. God knew that Job would triumph, despite the sufferings the enemy would inflict. God knew that the enemy would be defeated – defeated through Job’s experience.

Ultimate Plan

God knew that Job’s sufferings would achieve His ultimate plans and His purpose.. plans and purposes that were laid down, before the foundation of the world. God knew that Job’s tribulations would bring to fruition His eternal plan… a plan conceived in the heart of God that Christ should be All and in all.

God’s Servant

Job is described, in intimate terms as My servant…. he is MY servant Job… Both at the start and end of the book of Job. God‘s unequivocal statement is.. 'Job is MINE' – 'He belongs to ME' – 'MY Bond-Slave' – 'MY Possession' – 'MY Servant' – and a bond-slave of the Lord is swallowed up in the will of the Lord, today as then. And this bold and glorious statement is pronounced to the arch-enemy of the Lord. His servant will prevail. Yes, Job will prevail because Another was to prevail IN Job’s place… for  God has Another, in Job’s place, Whom He calls My Servant…. Zechariah 3:8

Christ Jesus

And God has Another, in Your place, Whom He calls My Bond-slave…. Philippians 2:7. Yes, God has Another that took on Himself the form of a Bond-Slave and through Him God’s plans and purposes – as exemplified through Job, were fulfilled. Yes, the story of Job actually happened. Yes, the book of Job is the most powerful encouragement to any suffering man. Yes, today as then, men of faith have to face their own 'Job experience'.

Purpose of Job

But like the Law and the Prophets, Job’s unique purpose is to point us to Christ, so that the eternal plans and purpose of God should be fulfilled – that Christ should be All and in all. The eternal plan and purpose of God was completed, through the Cross.. and the eternal plans and purpose of God will be completed at His return. And yet, the eternal plans and purposes of God are being carried out by the few – the few who are prepared to 'hold fast' faithfully to that which is good – to hold fast to the end.

Faithful Few

The remnant who are willing to take up the cross daily, and cry, Thy will not mine...be done. The minority of believers who will deny self and hold fast to the faith. The eternal plans and purposes of God are being carried out through the few – through the one who will say – though He slay me yet will I trust Him… – through the one – who through his own Job experiences can say… It is not I that live but Christ that lives in me…. Galatians 2:20