I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! – Job 19:27

Today’s Scripture Reading (May 5, 2015): Job 19

On October 12, 1940, Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a speech in Dayton, Ohio entitled the “Address on Hemisphere Defense.” In the address, Roosevelt espoused the need for the United States to arm itself in order to keep the conflict that was plaguing Europe and Asia away from American shores (Roosevelt in the speech actually species the freedom of all of the Americas, North, Central and South.) Roosevelt seemed to believe that a strong America would also be an America that would be able to stay out of the European conflict. But there seemed to be no doubt in Roosevelt’s mind that if the United States had the courage to advance their own military, the Second World War and Hitler would remain a problem that would stay on the other side of the ocean. Unfortunately, it was only a little more than a year after the “Address on Hemisphere Defense” that Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Apparently they believed that their show of strength was all that was needed to make sure that the United States minded their own business and stayed on their side of the ocean. It was a huge miscalculation. As a result of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States desire to stay neutral in the war in Europe and Asia ended, and the United States declared war on Japan – and then on the two other Axis powers that had allied themselves with Japan – Germany and Italy.

But in the midst of this speech, Roosevelt makes another observation. He says that “we have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.” Life would be better once this awful war was over. It is the hope of our human nature - that what comes next will always be better than what it is that we experience in the now.

In the midst of his darkness, it would be natural for Job to hope for something better. But Job’s words don’t seem to reflect a hope for something better. Suddenly Job seems to have stumbled onto a certainty, God has spoken and he has promised. Job will see God, and in spite of the advanced state of decay that he has expected for his body, his eyes will see God. This will not be a rumor, it is not the story that is told by his friends – he will see God, not just hear about God from another.

Job’s words are further evidence of the very early development of a doctrine of resurrection and an argument against the idea that a belief in a resurrection was a late development in Jewish thought. And Job’s words continue to be read at countless funerals, the firm belief that the one who has died in Christ will one day, with their own eyes, see Christ. This is not just a hope that we hold that something better lies beyond the horizon; it is the certainty that our faith – Jewish and Christian – is built on.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Job 20

Personal Note: Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter Alyssa. Have a great day!