February 22 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

There are lessons to be learned in times of great affliction. Elihu makes this point with Job by telling a story of a man who suffers a serious illness. His strength is broken. Intense pain robs him of joy and pleasure. The sight of food is repulsive to him. The man is skin over bones and at the brink of the grave. The messenger of death stands ready to take him. Miraculously, however, the man's health is restored. He recovers fully and is in better shape than he was in his youth!

What brought about the dramatic turn of events? The work of a mediating messenger! The Lord sends a Mediator who is gracious to him and says “Deliver him from going down to the Pit, I have found a ransom.” (24) This Mediating Angel is not an ordinary character. He is without equal. He possesses outstanding gifts and rises above a thousand. He will not let this man go down to the realm of the dead. He acts graciously, showing undeserved favour to the suffering. He commands the angel of death, “Release him! Let him go.”

Elihu reminds Job of his own sinfulness. He cannot do without a mediator. Job’s Redeemer (19:28) cannot defend his cause unless he pays the ransom and releases him from the pangs of sin and death. No one deserves to escape death or to enjoy health and prosperity, to live without worries, pain or suffering. Without a ransom, without payment for our sins, all that awaits us is the eternal darkness of hell.

We recognize in Elihu’s words the Spirit of prophecy. Elihu prophesies of the wonder of the incarnation. God stoops down in grace to sinners who need reconciliation and atonement. By God’s grace we today know more fully the powerful work of the Mediating Angel. No work can be compared to what Jesus did on the cross. His work of atonement was unique. He paid the price through the shedding of His blood. The angel of death approached Him but no one shouted “Release Him!” His own people did not want Him released but they shouted, “Away with Him! Crucify Him!” On the cross our Mediator experienced the terrors of the Pit so that we might be able to come through the darkness of suffering. Let us rejoice in the gospel of the Mediating Angel who purges us of all our sins and disperses the darkness by the light of His Word.