Extortion! That was the charge against me. In my seventh-grade mind, I wasn’t even sure what extortion meant. Yet, here I was not only being accused of this crime against a fellow classmate but then sent to In School Suspension as punishment. For three days I sat in a classroom full of rule breakers and rebels that I didn’t normally interact with. I tried to remain quiet, do my assignments and just wait out my time there. The worst part was this had to be a misunderstanding. I had never even thought of trying to extort money, candy or anything else from someone. Why was I being punished for something I didn’t do? And why wasn’t anyone willing to listen to my pleas of innocence? Unfortunately, even my parents were unable to help as they were out of town that week. But on the third day they returned and things began to change. At my parents urging, the assistant principal called in a witness who was able to clarify that I was never a part of some elaborate extortion plot. This witness was able to vindicate me and I was able to rejoin my normal class. Hallelujah!
In our reading today, most English translations use the word “Redeemer.” Job has suffered so much and does not know why. He has lost family, wealth and even his health. The only things he has not lost are his “friends” who continuously kick him while he’s down. In the midst of all of his suffering he declares, “I know that my Redeemer lives.” What great faith he had! We can definitively identify with having a great redeemer in Christ who has rescued us from sin. While the truth of that statement remains the Hebrew language also offers the idea of a “vindicator.” While we may think of a redeemer as one who delivers from sin, a vindicator delivers from affliction or wrong done against someone. What peace there is in knowing that God is not only our redeemer but our vindicator!
Lord, help me to know that you will handle any wrongs done against me and I can find my rest in you.
Rev. Christopher Hall
Extended Scripture: Job 18–19
