Job
Chapter 14 and the Ultimate Future
By George
F. Howe
In Job 14:1-2 Job himself was the speaker
when he emphasized the ephemeral aspects of human life. Mankind has a fleeting
and troublesome existence, which Job compared to a flower that withers and to a
shadow that quickly passes. These words foreshadow similar remarks by Christ on
earth.
Regarding God’s concern for people, Job
asked"…doest Thou open thine eyes on such an one…?" (KJV). This means
"Do You take notice of the likes of people, who are ‘here today and gone
tomorrow’?" Jesus answered that question many years later when He said
that God is the Originator of each colorful flower in the fields and that God
has an ongoing tally of all hairs on every human head!
Job asked further "Will you [God] bring
him [this evanescent person] before you in judgment?" (NIV, vs:3, brackets
mine) God answered with a resounding "Yes" in many other Bible
passages and lie assured us that such judgment would yield correction and
righteousness in its recipients—e.g. Isaiah 26:9b.
People are not like trees that grow back
again from their roots after being cut down (Job 14:12). According to the text,
they do not arise or awaken from their sleep of death .... .til the heavens are
no more.. ." (KJV). John made it clear (Revelation 20: l)that the old
heavens and earth will pass away at the end of the millennial eon, at which
time the unregenerate dead will be raised. John further quoted Christ (John
5:25) as stating that the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and that
those who hear will live.
Job then makes a request that will sound
strange to orthodox Christian ears (Job 14:13): "Oh that You would hide me
in Sheol…" (NASB). In less than a literal vein, both the KJV and the NIV
use the English word "grave" here. As Biblical Universalists have
made clear, however, this was an unfortunate choice because there are other
Hebrew words that refer to the grave. This word Sheol is quite similar to the
Greek word Hades and both are routinely mistranslated "hell" in the
KJV at other locations. If Sheol really referred to our modem concept of
"a Devil’s hell", why would Job plead to go there? And if it means
"hell" in one passage it needs to be translated that way in other
instances too—we may not" pick and choose" based on our own
eschatological presuppositions.
Concordant translators (CV) have made it
clear from the Hebrew that Sheol actually designates the imperceptible domain
of the dead—it has no connotation of fiery punishment. Thus, Sheol could simply
be transliterated into English and need not be rendered either
"grave" or "hell."
Job also exclaims (Job 14:13): "If only
you would set me a time and then remember me…(NIV). God revealed to us that He
will resurrect people, "…every man in his own order…" (I Corinthians
15:23). It will all be accomplished…"in the dispensation of the fullness
of time"…(Ephesians 1:10). Christ’s vivification of different people will
be…"testified in due time" (I Timothy 2:6). Job’s plea will be more
than granted!
In Job 14:13, Job makes one more passionate
request---that he might be hidden or concealed until God’s wrath is over. In
making such a request, perhaps Job understood more clearly than some believers
do today that God’s wrath will come to a complete end for all people: Isaiah 10:
24-25. Isaiah 25: 8-10, Isaiah 12:1, Isaiah 57:16, and Micah 7:18b. Christ
indicated that at some point Be would be drawing all human beings unto
himself—John 12:32. He also indicated that at some point in the future He
would".. .ever be casting out judging for victory" (Matthew 12:20,
CV).
Speaking of God, Job said, "You will
call and I will answer you; you will long for the creature your hands have
made" (Job 14:15, NIV). While this longing of God for the His creature
refers here strictly to Job, it is clear from other passages that God is a
Creator who is faithful to His entire creation and He is not willing that any
should perish (II Peter 3:9).
As a human father, I long for a son who died
at age 42. Surely God has far deeper desires to bring back every one of His
created sons and daughters from the dead. God has the power to restore them all
too, and to give them strength—"In your hands are strength and power to
exalt and give strength to all"( I Chronicles 29:12, NIV).
Job knew that God would not keep track of his
sin (14:16) so that his sins would be covered and would be sealed up in a bag.
These were sweeping statements!
Although God revealed much about the ultimate
reconciliation of all to Job, Job’s friend Eliphaz belittled Job’s
insight—perhaps out of jealousy when he asked: "What do you know that we
do not know?" (Job 15:9). The implied answer implied, "Quite a bit,
Eliphaz, quite a bit!"