Isn’t it amazing! Our Mediator is completely even-handed in dealing with both the holy God and us sinners.
Job seriously feels the need of help. He describes his life as hurtling ahead. It’s like a fast-paced runner streaking towards the finish line (Job 9:25), like a ship in full sail breaking through the foam on its way to the harbor, or “like an eagle swooping on its prey” (v 26). But where is he headed? No use putting on a happy face as a disguise (v 27). Job is suffering both without and within. It’s not just a skin problem he has; it’s also a sin problem (vv 28- 30). If his recent history is any indication, he’s afraid of how much worse it could get. In spite of any efforts at improvement, Job fears, “You will plunge me into the pit” (v 31). He desperately needs a Friend, but not like the three friends he already has. And why? Because God “is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, and that we should go to court together” (v 32). We don’t understand His ways, we don’t speak His language, and we don’t have a venue for meeting Him to discuss our problems. We need a “mediator between us, who may lay his hand on us both” (v 33). And there’s something else. “Let Him take His rod away from me, and do not let dread of Him terrify me. Then I would speak and not fear Him” (vv 34-35). How Job would have rejoiced to know what we know! Do WE rejoice in this? “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Tim 2:5-6). Yes, in due time there would appear the one and only GodMan. He would be the Mediator (one in the middle who doesn’t lean either way!). But more, this Mediator would take the blows of that rod we deserved by becoming our Ransom as well! Job says, “it is not so with me” (Job 9:35). But saint, it is so with you and me!