Where Is The Grace In That?

Be on guard! Turn back from evil, for God sent this suffering to keep you from a life of evil. [Job 36.21]

This quote of Elihu is from yesterday's OT reading. For the life of me, I am trying to figure out what in the world is going on here with Job. Somehow I had missed this statement in yesterday's reading.

Is it possible that we have somehow lost something in the translation of God's original discussion with satan? Is it possible that God was actually prescribing correction for Job? Is it possible that this whole story is not some random event, but rather an account of the perfect Almighty God dealing with an imperfect man?

In Elihu's closing statements and then God's opening statements in today's OT reading, no doubt, the subject is clearly that God alone holds infinite power and knowledge. And, if Elihu's version of why Job was suffering so has any validity at all, then, in God's infinite wisdom and surpassing knowledge, it was for Job's ultimate good.

Ironically, in today's NT reading Paul attributes suffering and troubles as glory-producers in our lives (II Corinthians 4.17).

So, if suffering consequences of our sins in our own lives and bodies produces glory in us, where does Jesus' substitution on our behalf (redemption) factor in? What need is there for Jesus? Jesus Himself is conveniently not mentioned by Paul in the paragraphs about our suffering (II Corinthians 4.16-5.10) except that Christ will judge us when we stand before Him. Is Paul telling us to be good enough until we are ultimately redeemed? And, if we are good enough to be redeemed, what need is there for redemption? Where is the grace in that?

I can grasp Job's suffering as an effort by God to avert evil in his life. Even Job himself pleaded for an intercessor - the very role Jesus would years later be declared to fill on our behalf. Understandably, Job's life was before Christ's advent. But what about Paul? What about us? We have the Intercessor - God's very Holy Spirit given to us by none other than our Redeemer Himself, Jesus.

Job's plea for a redeemer - an intercessor - was to relieve him of his suffering in real time as opposed to the future. Job's understanding of redemption was altogether accurate - albeit in advance of reality.

But I do not understand Paul's presentation of redemption still "in the future" having the knowledge of Christ. Job believed an intercessor would bring immediate redemption from suffering. Paul, who on one hand performed miraculous healings that would attest to complete and immediate redemption, on the other hand declared this complete redemption was not immediate.

My confusion has me at odds with the apostle Paul.

Father, I believe Jesus is my Redeemer. I believe His redemption covers ALL my sin, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. And regarding suffering, if my faith in my Redeemer is no good for yesterday and today, how can I ever declare or believe it will be good for tomorrow?