Job 14:14-17 If a man dies, will he live again?
All the days of my hard service
I will wait for my renewal to come.
You will call and I will answer you;
you will long for the creature your hands have made.
Surely then you will count my steps
but not keep track of my sin.
My offences will be sealed up in a bag;
you will cover over my sin.

It is amazing to me that this depth of insight into God’s salvation would have been recorded so long before Jesus, or even Isaiah. Some scholars say that Job predates Moses, which would make this all the more astounding. Verse 14 has a difficulty in translation which the NIV renders as “renewal,” with a footnote of the alternative “release,” but the Japanese renders that sentence as, “I will wait until the one who takes my place will come.” Jesus came to take our place on the cross, enabling us to rise from the dead because our sins have been taken away. To me, this passage says exactly that, and I am amazed. God has indeed been speaking His truth into the hearts of mankind ever since the Garden of Eden, but relatively few have heard him correctly and even fewer have been fully obedient. Paul speaks of how all creation proclaims God, (Romans 1:20) and Psalm 19 is an extended statement by David on that theme. I have been familiar with those passages for a long time, but that such a specific statement of salvation would be in such an old text blows my mind.

As much as I tell others about the omnipotence and omniscience of God, even I forget it sometimes, practically speaking. I exhort others to see the greatness of God and expect great things of Him, and yet I fail to do so myself. The irony is extreme. I need to listen to my own sermons! God isn’t my lackey, to do whatever I want, but indeed nothing is impossible for Him. (Luke 1:37) I know those words and on some level I believe them, but my faith has a lot of room for growth! Last night the Lord had me pray for something that on the face of it seems impossible, but I must not dismiss it, because God who revealed His plan of salvation in Job can reveal His salvation to the hearts of the people of Omura. We are seeing the tremendous favor and good will that we have been given with so many, many people, and God is more than able to convert that to repentance and faith for salvation. I am not to give up on anyone, but advance boldly against the gates of hell and tear them down to release the captives. (Matthew 16:18, Luke 4:18-19)

Father, years ago You told me not to be amazed at what amazed others, but to expect great things of You. Thank You for renewing that in me right now. Help me be active in my obedience, knowing that the plans and the power come from You, for a massive harvest in Your kingdom, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!