Jesus Christ, Official Arbiter for Humanity

The story of Job centers around a wager between God and Satan over whether or not Job loved and served God for who he is or for all the things that God gave him.

Satan's theory is that Job, like any human, loves anyone who gives him presents and so Job loved God fiercely because God consistently blessed Job with great gifts.

God responds that Job loves him for him (is this sounding like an episode of Gossip Girl?) and that even if Satan took away all of God's gifts to him Job would still love God.

Satan double-dog dares God to prove it and we are off on a 40+ chapter adventure to discover who is right.

So, Satan takes away all of the blessings in Job's life. He kills his children. He destroys his possessions. He ruins his business. He takes away his health. He strains his marriage.

After all this happens, some of Job's closest friends show up to have an "intervention." They are convinced that God is punishing Job for some unconfessed sin because, in their minds, God always blesses the righteous (with stuff) and always punishes the wicked (by taking their stuff).

Job, however, knows that he hasn't done anything wrong. He knows that he still loves God and obeys God. He knows that he has not blamed God or cursed God.

But Job makes a point in chapter 9 that has me very thankful for Jesus Christ.

What do you do when there is a dispute, in this case whether or not Job "deserves" all that is happening to him, between you and God?

God, as it turns out, is really hard to "dispute" with. Let me walk you through Job's words in Job 9 as he makes the point that humans have no recourse when their relationship with God goes bad.

Truly, I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God? If one wishes to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times. (v. 2-3)

Job's point is simple--God is God and what in the world do I have to say before God? Do I really think I could win an argument? Do I really think that he would accept any excuses or reasons?

Job then runs down a list of the reason's why he is not able to speak before God--

He is wise in heart and mighty in strength--who has hardened himself against him and succeeded? (v.4)

Job cites God's control over nature: he removes mountains and overturns them in his anger, shakes the earth out of its place, commands the sun, seals up the stars, stretched out the heavens, trampled the waves of the sea, and made the Bear and Orion (constellations).

Job cites God's supernatural nature: does great things beyond searching out, marvelous things beyond number, he passes by me and I see him not, he moves on but I do not perceive him, and he snatches away, who can turn him back?

Job cites the inability of humanity to prevent God from executing judgment:

Who will say to him, 'What are you doing?' (v. 12b)

God will not turn back his anger. (v. 13)

How then can I answer him? (v. 14)

If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice. (v. 16)

If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him? (v. 19)

Finally Job sums it up in one single sentence:

For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him. (v. 32)

So, what was Job to do? There was obviously, in his mind, conflict between he and God but how could he handle it? How do you reconcile yourself to God?

And that brings me to the modern day relevance of this passage.

All of us are born into "conflict" with God. We are born sinners. We manifest our sinful tendencies in daily and systematic rebellion against God's kingdom and commands.

We set up other "gods" and chase after them as though they were the true God. We ignore his rightful claim of authority in our lives.

But we, like Job, are powerless to remedy that situation. What would we do? Would we run to God and offer him some lame excuse? Would we go to him and show him how it was really his fault? Would we expect him to just look the other way?

And the despair of that situation leads Job to long for someone to stand between him and God and do the work of reconciliation:

There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both. (v. 33)

Who could Job go to for help? His friends? His wife? They were human like him and as such utterly incapable of speaking with God and solving Job's problem.

Who can we go to? A preacher? Our parents? Our friends? Our professor? They were born sinners just like us. They are powerless before God just like us.

And that is what brings me (finally) to the powerful conclusion of this passage.

Jesus Christ is the arbiter between us and God. He is the one who is both God (and so can speak before God the Father) and human (and so is moved to speak on our behalf). He is the one who lays his hand on us both (cross visual anyone?) and reconciles us.

He is the one who speaks on behalf of those who trust him for salvation to God the Father. He is the one who speaks on behalf of God to those who trust him.

Were you born a sinner? Do you need reconciliation with God? Do you enjoy reconciliation with God? If so, then look or thank Jesus Christ your arbiter.