Job 17

There is a very interesting verse in this chapter of Job. Look it up in several versions at home or online, and you’ll find a number of different renderings: "Give me, O God, the pledge you demand. Who else will put up security for me?"(vs 3) In other words, Job is crying out to God and saying, "You will have to set things right, God. I don’t have what it takes."

Remarkably, this is yet another slam at the theology presented to Job by his friends. Their contention was that Job had done some very bad things, and if he wanted his life to get better, he was going to have to take responsibility, repent, and make the first move back toward God. However, as we already know, Job totally rejected that bogus theology and firmly placed the ball in God’s court, admitting that it was beyond him to address his own problem and asking God to bear the cost of setting things right.

Boy, did he know a lot about God.

From the very beginning, God has shouldered the burden of sin. Though the problem in our relationship with Him was not caused by Him, He has always been the one to take the initiative. He has always borne the cost of setting things right. He pursues us. He reassures us. He tries to make amends with us. He does everything in His power to repair the damage that our sin has caused.

What we see in the events surrounding the cross is a God who says, "There is nothing you can do to Me to make Me lash out at you. You may have a problem with Me, but I have no problem with you. I love you. I forgive you. I accept you. And I always have. Now, won’t you come on home?"

In the work of salvation, God shoulders the burden of sin. He does all the "heavy lifting," reconciling us to Himself by revealing the kind of person He is. We usually think (and preach!) that it’s the other way around—that somehow God has to be reconciled to us. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Though we have caused the breach in our relationship with Him, God is the one who repairs the breach and woos us home. He is not offended by our sin; His heart is moved to help and heal us, just as the heart of any parent is moved when their child is sick. He has never had to be persuaded (either by speeches or sacrifice) to accept us. He accepts you. Right now. Just as you are.

Whatever is necessary for salvation is provided by Him. He sets us right, He keeps us right. And thank God He does, because addressing our own problem is entirely beyond us.