JESUS CHRIST and HOLY SPIRIT in Job

JESUS CHRIST in Job

There is no direct reference to Christ in the Book of Job; however, Job may be seen as a type of Christ. Job suffered greatly and was humbled and stripped of all he had, but in the end he was restored and became the intercessor for his friends. Christ emptied Himself, taking on Himself human form.

He suffered, was persecuted for a time by men and demons, seemed forsaken by God, and became an intercessor. A major difference between Christ and Job is that Christ chose to empty Himself, whereas Job’s abasement came about through circumstances beyond his control. Further, Job identifies himself as “vile” (40:4); whereas Jesus is identified by Scripture as being totally without sin (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15).

The Book of James directs the reader’s attention to the patience and endurance of Job. James states that, as God’s intention toward Job was good, so our Lord’s intention toward us is good (5:11). According to James, it is with Job-like patience and endurance that we are to await Christ’s coming so that we receive the full unfolding of God’s goodness to us.

HOLY SPIRIT in Job

Elihu, in his debate with Job, makes three significant statements about the role of the Holy Spirit in the relationship of people to God. In 32:8 he declares that a person’s understanding is not due to his age or station in life, but rather is a result of the operation of the Spirit of God. The Spirit then is the Author of wisdom, endowing one with the capacity to know and making sense out of life for him. Thus knowledge and wisdom are the Spirit’s gift to men.

The Spirit of God is also the Source of life itself (33:4). Apart from the direct influence of the Spirit, man as we know him would not have come into existence. From the original creation it was so, and continues to be so. Elihu states that his own existence witnesses to the life-giving power of the Spirit. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of life.

Because the Spirit gives life and wisdom to man, He is also essential to the very continuation of the human race. If God should turn His attention elsewhere, if He should withdraw His life-giving Spirit from this world, then human history would come to an end (34:14, 15).

Elihu’s point is that God is neither capricious nor selfish. Because He cares for man, He constantly sustains him by the abundant flow of His Spirit. Thus the Holy Spirit in the Book of Job is the Creator and Sustainer of life, and He gives meaning and rationality to life.