Words of Hope

A Word Study on the Biblical Word "Hope"

Today we will take a look at one final passage on "hope" found in the Book of Job.  We have noted that Job speaks mostly of his seeming hopelessness while his friends have tried to offer him messages of hope even though they have mistakenly concluded that Job was being punished for his sins.  Despite his great suffering, however, Job has not lost his faith in God.  He simply does not understand what God is doing or why and so he continually cries out to God for some explanation for his afflictions and for vindication of his innocence.  More and more Job expresses less hope of any earthly restoration or recovery and looks beyond this life to a heavenly hope.  In chapter 14, verse 7, Job states:  "For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again ..." but then asks in verse 14, "If a man die, shall he live again?".  In other words, does a human being have even as much hope as a tree of ever living again once he has died?  The answer to Job's question really has a two-fold answer.  The first answer is NO!  Man is not like a tree that sprouts new growth from its stump.  He is more like water that dries up and disappears: "As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up, so man lieth down and riseth not ..." (vs.11,12).  In other words, man does not have the innate power to physically resuscitate himself once he is dead.  Death ends man's earthly life.  We may compare other passages that make the same observation:  Psalm 6:5; 88:9-11; 115:17; Ecc. 9:10.  But the answer does not stop there!  The second part of the answer to Job's question is found in the rest of verse 12 and extends to verse 15.  In these verses we find that this same question may be answered with a resounding YES!  Physical resuscitation may be impossible, but a physical resurrection is not.  In fact Job expects such a resurrection to take place.  Layton Talbert in his book Beyond Suffering commented:  "Job is not denying but confirming a resurrection, however cloudy it may be on the fine eschatological details... Job speaks of God's hiding him in the grave until His wrath is withdrawn (14:13), of waiting until his change comes (14:14), of God one day summoning the work of His hands and Job's response to that call (14:15)."  The coming resurrection of the dead gives the believer a better hope than that of a mere restoration to an earthly life.  This is what the writer to the Hebrews spoke of concerning those who for their faith "were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection ..." (Hebrews 11:35).  Job's hope in a future resurrection dealt with both the when and the what of the resurrection.  First the when:  1) When the heavens be no more - vs. 12  (We may compare this with Revelation 20:11-13); 2) When God's wrath is over - vs. 13 (We may also find this idea in God's words in Daniel 12:1,2,13); and 3) When the set time God has appointed comes - vs. 13,14.  And then the what:  1) The righteous remembered by God - vs. 13; 2) The righteous transformed by God - vs.14; 3) The righteous called forth by God - vs.15; and 4) The righteous desired by God as the work of His hands - vs.15.  That blessed day will indeed be a long, sought for reunion with God and His people!  The present reality of man's frailty and suffering will be swallowed up in the future reality of resurrection and eternal transformation for those who are found that day in Christ.  Listen again to the words of Job:  "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold..." (Job 19:25-27).  A blessed hope indeed!