Job 9:32–33

This drew from Job the striking words recorded in Job 9. He began by admitting that God's disciplinary ways are right. But he raised the all-important question: how could a man be right with God? In our day people use the short sentence, "Get right with God," to awaken interest in the gospel message. It might well provoke the reply, "Yes, but how is it to be done?" This is exactly the question Job asked in verse 2. The rest of the chapter shows how earnest and sincere he was in asking it, for he suggested and examined four possible answers.

Again the vast difference between himself, a poor loathsome creature, and the Creator weighs on his mind... He felt altogether too little and too feeble to deal directly with God. If He were only a man, Job felt he could approach Him and lay out his case before Him. He could show Him that there was no just cause for the treatment he felt he was receiving. But the One who afflicted him was hidden from him, and His greatness was a terror to him.

The word means 'mediator,' or 'umpire,' as the margin has it: one "who might lay his hand on us both" (Job 9:33). This is what the Lord Jesus is — the mediator between God and men.

How clear it is that Job knew he was a sinful creature before his holy Creator, and that he had in himself no means of getting right. That being so, his only hope was in the stepping in of a third party; but no such third party, or "daysman," was known to him. His three friends could not act the part, and neither could any other man. The daysman must be great enough to lay one of his hands on Almighty God, and gracious enough to lay the other on poor diseased and sinful Job.

Long before Christ appeared the hearts of men longed for a mediator. The book of Job is evidence of this, for that patriarch felt the immense gulf that lay between God and himself... The One who takes up the part of Daysman or Mediator must Himself be God to fully represent God, and must be Man to rightly represent man. The Man Christ Jesus is He.

Realising that man cannot bridge the gulf that sin has made between himself and God, Job felt the need of a mediator. Christ alone meets this need. From the glory of the Godhead He stooped to manhood in His indescribable grace. This enables Him to "lay His hand on us both." But His becoming man could not of itself remove one single sin... Forgiveness is impossible apart from blood. So the apostle adds: "Who gave Himself as a ransom for all." The manger was a necessary step to the cross.

Now Elihu is a name with a meaning, and we are told it means "God Himself." Keep this in mind, then read verse 6 of Job 33. We see that he stepped in to play the part of a mediator. So he became a picture — though a faint one — of the true Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God Himself. Elihu was truly a man, formed out of the clay. He stood before Job on God's behalf, just as Job had wished in Job 9:33.

This chapter brings out the state of Job's mind. He says, "I know it is so of a truth. But how should man be just with God?" He gets before God as Judge; and his perplexity is very great. He cannot answer God one in a thousand. "I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that You will not hold me innocent." Poor Job! He does not know now which way to turn. And is not this the case with every believer the moment he gets before God as Judge?

The word means 'mediator,' or 'umpire,' as in the margin: one "that might lay his hand upon us both," Job 9:33: as the Lord Jesus is mediator between God and men.

How clear it is that Job knew he was a sinful creature before his holy Creator, and that he had in himself no means of getting right. That being so, his only hope was in the stepping in of a third party; but he knew of no such third party, no "daysman." His three friends could not act the part, and neither could any other man. The daysman must be great enough to lay one of his hands upon Almighty God, and gracious enough to lay the other upon poor, diseased, sinful Job.

I might come to you and lay my hand upon your shoulder and talk freely with you, for we are equals. But I could not stand beside His Majesty the King and lay my hand upon him. How much less could a man lay his hand upon God, or upon the throne of God!... And yet the mediator for whom Job cried in his despair must be able to put His hand upon God. He must be God's equal. No one less could step in, or be of use to Job or to us. But He must also put His hand upon men. He must be one of us, able to take our part and to identify Himself with our vast indebtedness. HE MUST BE GOD AND MAN.

I am not commenting here on the spirit in which Job takes the matter up, for it was a wrong one. I bring it forward to show this: the sense of needing a mediator arises from the conviction of sin, and does not hinder it.

He reminds Job of his own desire for such a person: "Neither is there any daysman between us, that might lay his hand upon us both" (Job 9:33)... To this desire Elihu now replies: "Behold, I am according to your wish, in God's stead; I also am formed out of the clay. Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you" (Job 33:6-7).

Realising that man cannot bridge the gulf that sin has made between himself and God, Job felt the need of a mediator. Christ alone meets this need. From Godhead glory He stooped to manhood in His indescribable grace. This enables Him to "lay His hand upon us both." But His incarnation could not of itself remove one single sin... Remission is impossible apart from blood. Accordingly the apostle adds: "Who gave Himself a ransom for all." The manger was a necessary step to the cross.