Bible Talks: Job 14:13-22

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LATER on in chapter 19 Job does speak of something which seems to imply resurrection. There he tells of a latter day upon the earth when, after his body should have gone into corruption, that he should stand and see God. It would seem that Abraham had more light than Job in this for it says, “he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and Maker is God.” He was one of those who “desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.” Heb. 11:10, 1610For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10)
16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16). The full truth of the heavenly portion of the saints of God could not be revealed until after our blessed Lord had risen from the dead.
In Hebrews 11:17-1917By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:17‑19) we read: “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,... Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Job was a man of faith and knew something of the truth of resurrection, but he still had to know the power of it in his own soul. And this is the principle of that new life of faith in which the believer is called to walk through this world by the power of the Spirit of God, “the power that worketh in us.” Eph. 3:2020Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Ephesians 3:20). The Apostle could say: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2: 20.
In verse 14 Job raises another question: “If a man (chief man) die, shall he live again?” We know this cannot be answered apart from the New Testament Scriptures which tell of an accomplished redemption.
In verse 19 Job addresses God: “The waters wear the stones: Thou washeth away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and Thou destroyest the hope of man [mortal man]. Thou prevailest forever against him, and he passeth: Thou changest his countenance and sendest him away.” God in His government over the earth has to so deal with man.
From the book of Genesis we learn that God first allowed men to live long lives—over 900 years—but afterward the span of life was shortened. At the time of the flood a shortening of man’s days took place. “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually.” Gen. 6:55And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5). So the flood came and swept away all except righteous Noah and his family. Then after the flood we have a new beginning. After Noah no one lived to reach 900 years, and after Noah’s son Shem, the life span of man was only half what it was prior to the flood. Again, after the attempt to build the tower of Babel, with the confusion of tongues as God’s judgment on them, the lives of men were cut in half again. After a few more generations we find a gradual shortening of the life span of man to 70 years, as we are told in Psalm 90. It would seem that perhaps Job lived during this period of the gradual shortening of life’s span; but Job did not understand all this. He was speaking here of some things that were beyond him—which men are prone to do, and for which they will be held accountable in the day of reckoning. Job had to own afterward that he had spoken of things that he understood not.
ML-04/10/1960