“Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds, with ceaseless aching in their bones. They lose their appetite for even the most delicious food. Their flesh wastes away, and their bones stick out. They are at death’s door; the angels of death wait for them. “But if an angel from heaven appears—a special messenger to intercede for a person and declare that he is upright—he will be gracious and say, ‘Rescue him from the grave, for I have found a ransom for his life.’ Then his body will become as healthy as a child’s, firm and youthful again. [Job 33.19-25]
When young Elihu speaks (not one of Job's three friends), we start to get some clearer insight into just what is going on with Job. The passage above reveals Jesus in the book of Job and some important information distinguishing between Old Testament and New Testament thinking!
Even though Satan is the Destroyer responsible for executing curses upon people, it is God, in His justice, Who authorized it (notice I did not say "authorizes"). Because of this, God took full responsibility for justice and Satan could not take claim for it. All Satan was capable of was executing curses. However, his only ongoing capacity today is deception. This gives us a clear picture of how Satan worked then and works now.
Because, in Job's time, there was no Intercessor in place (One Who also would be the Victor over Satan), Satan had access to God's presence because Adam had yielded his standing with God giving Satan full right to accuse man before God. Job himself wished earlier for such an "intercessor" arrangement and then here today Elihu refers to it as well. Elihu's reference serves as a perfect picture and prophecy of Christ to us today.
Elihu's prophecy of Christ reveals to us where we stand on the subject matter of sickness! WE HAVE AN INTERCESSOR WHO SERVES TO RANSOM US SO WE MIGHT BE HEALTHY AS A CHILD!
And then, we see Jesus Who said all things are possible to him who believes... So, the only thing standing between man and health is faith (or the lack thereof), but that is a very unpopular topic among "believers."
Maybe someday I will see it differently, but at this time I am increasingly understanding that people have many opinions today about sickness that may simply be the deception of Satan. Naturally then, when deception is involved (as that is Satan's only tool today because he was stripped of his right to accuse man before God by Christ's work on the cross), all manner of confusion and misunderstanding abounds regarding the topic of faith and health for Christ followers. Consequently, like Job, self-righteous arrogance remains the number one defense mechanism when faced with the truth about curses (sickness, poverty, and the likes).
One thing has never changed and that is the need to repent.
May God help us to better understand His Word. May God help us be on guard at all times against deception (including partial truths) from any other source!
Father, thank You for continuing to help me understand. Keep me from deception as I look to Your Word alone for direction and instruction for my life!
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