Job knew his Redeemer lived and He would stand at last on the earth one day (Job 19.25). Many have wondered if Job was referring to Christ long before He came to the earth and died for all men. We are aware of the pain and agony Job was experiencing and his three friends were not making things better. As a matter of fact, he called them “miserable comforters” because of their lack of compassion and support (Job 16.2). Still, Job knew something about his Redeemer standing upon the earth one day in the future. There is more to learn about this interesting passage in the book of Job than what we see at a surface level.

In the Old Testament, we notice the Most High God being the Redeemer of Israel (Ps. 78.35). He would be the One to deliver Israel (Isa. 41.14). He would be their savior and besides Him there is no other (Isa. 43.11). The Most High God, the Redeemer of Israel would teach His people; He would lead them in the way they should go (Isa. 48.17). According to the author’s conclusion, The Most High God would call Himself, “the King of Israel” and “his Redeemer” in Isaiah 44.6. This would make sense because God called Israel His son during the days of Moses (Exo. 4.22). Isaiah is making the point that God is not only Israel’s King but also their Redeemer or the One who purchases them or delivers them from their oppressors or captors.

In the New Testament, the Father would continue His work in redeeming man from their sin. In Luke 1.67-80, Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied about the God of Israel visiting His people and redeeming them. He would raise up a horn of salvation as he refers back to the words of the Psalmist in the eighteenth division and verse two (Ps. 18.2).   Anna and the rest of Jerusalem would look for this salvation (Luke 2.36-38). This One would be the Christ, the One who would give His life a ransom for many (Matt. 20.28; Mark 10.45).

Paul, as he wrote to Timothy, would bring more clarity to the idea of ransom in chapter two and verse six. Notice the passage: “who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Tim. 2.6). The idea of ransom is that which is given in exchange for another as the price of his redemption. God would give His Son and His Son would give His life as that ransom or paid price for man’s life. This should remind us of the words of Peter: “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1.18-19). Friends, our Father redeemed us from the grips of death and hell by His Son’s blood and amazing sacrifice of Himself.

We must increase our awareness of the One sent from the Father to redeem man from their sins. Paul would say this to the brethren in Galatia: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Gal. 4.4-5). Jesus paid the ransom for those under the Law of Moses and for those who would be under His law after the resurrection and coronation from His Father. Why? This is a great question for us to explore. According to Titus 2.11-14, God’s grace brought salvation and this deliverance from sin and His wrath would be because of the One, “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Tit. 2.14). God redeeming us was not only to buy us back, but also to teach us how to live for Him through His beloved Son. Praise the mighty name of God for His bountiful care.

As we increase our awareness of the One who gave His life for us, let us keep in mind the receipt of ransom, the payment that set us free from sin and delivered us from evil from within and without. Brethren, we have been washed by the blood of the Lamb and therefore have, “forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1.7). He sealed us with the promise and has given us a guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, which is the church of Christ (Eph. 1.14). Let us not take for granted what God has done for us and the justification we have by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3.24). We have a great deal to be thankful for and for this reason we will end with this passage from the apostle Paul: “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1.30).